Extensions of Remarks E1823 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
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October 19, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E1823 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TRIBUTE TO BO SHAFER with as many people as possible, and he will and he excelled at football, earning all-state be afforded a global opportunity to expand honors and a scholarship to the University of upon a lifelong devotion to community serv- Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville. HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. ice as Kiwanis' 2000±01 International Presi- Notably, he was a charter member of the OF TENNESSEE dentÐwhile spreading his homespun West High School Key Club, and then he be- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ``Boverbs'': came a charter member of the UT Circle K club. Years later when Bo was the Circle K ``JOY COMES FROM GIVING; PLEASURE COMES Wednesday, October 18, 2000 club's Kiwanis sponsor, he helped it form a FROM TAKING'' Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, today I want to Big Brothers chapter. ``I don't think people are born with a serv- In college, footballÐwhich is taken very recognize Mr. Bo Shafer, who recently be- ant heart; I think we're born selfish,'' Bo seriously at UTÐoccupied much of his time. came the International President of the theorizes. ``And if you don't have spiritual A six-foot-two-inch, 220-pound ``average'' Kiwanis Club. help, you really don't have the right heart to tackle who played iron-man football (offense He is one of the finest men I know. do things for other people and expect noth- and defense) for the Volunteers, he saw a lot All who know Bo Shafer agree that he is a ing in return. When I ask people why they of action as a junior and was a first-stringer help others, the answer I usually get is that compassionate leader who serves our Country his senior year. (The Vols went to the 1956 it makes them feel good. That's fine, but if Sugar Bowl with tailback Johnny Majors well. His dedication and commitment to com- you do it for that reason, that's not altru- and to the 1957 Gator Bowl.) munity service and involvement are an exam- istic service.'' Bo was more than just a jock, though: His ple to everyone. Bo knows. His civic involvement, particu- senior year, he was elected student govern- He has served for 33 years on the Salvation larly in the fund-raising arena, in which he's ment president. He graduated in 1959 with a Army Board, raised millions of dollars for the raised millions of dollars, is as deep as his bachelor's degree in business. Center of Hope and other organizations, and roots to his hometown of Knoxville, Ten- Then it was off to the United States Army for 18 months with his Reserve Officers' served as an elder and Sunday school teacher nessee. He always has devoted about 50 per- cent of his waking hours to community serv- Training Corps commission. He was a first at the Second Presbyterian Church, just to ice of some form. lieutenant in the military police with a name a few. Consider a sampling: 33 years on the Salva- logistical command unit stationed in Metz, In 1995 he was named Community Leader tion Army Board, including $5 million raised France, for more than a year. He credits that of the Year by the Religious Heritage of Amer- for the Center of Hope as campaign co-chair- experience (as well as seven years in the US ica. Bo Shafer also served as United Way man (with good friend and Knoxville Rotar- Army Reserve) for enhancing his leadership ian Dale Keasling); United Way chairman in skills. chairman in 1983 and co-chairman with his Returning home, Bo began the pursuit of wife, Mary, in 1994. 1983 and co-chairman (with Mary) in 1994, in- cluding $1.6 million raised for McNabb Chil- his career aspirations and soon opened the Bo's devotion to community service can only dren and Youth Center as campaign co-chair- Shafer Insurance Agency with his father in be outdone by his commitment to family. Bo man (again with Keasling); Second Pres- 1963. (Today, the agency has 17 employees, and Mary have been married for 33 years. byterian Church elder and Sunday school including his son, who also is a UT business They have a beautiful family, including the re- teacher for 31 years; and 1995 Community grad.) cent addition of their first grandchild, Chris- Leader of the Year by the Religious Heritage ``NOTHING WORTHWHILE IS EASY'' topher. of America. ``I wrote a paper in the ninth grade about This Country would be a better place if we ``WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING TO being an insurance agent; that's what I OTHERS'' wanted to be,'' Bo says. ``My daddy never had more men like Bo Shafer. came home and complained about the busi- ``With United Way, I'd visit agencies and I want to say thank you to a great Ten- ness; he just talked about it positively. I learn more and more about how many people nessean, a great American, my friend, Bo never had another thing that I ever wanted need help,'' President Bo says, ``I really Shafer. I have included a copy of an article to do except to follow in his footsteps.'' learned how blessed I am, which I've talked written in Kiwanis Magazine honoring Bo Well, almost nothing. By 1966, Bo was ac- about a thousand times. We all are, you tive in the Kiwanis Club of Knoxville (having Shafer that I would like to call to the attention know, because I've seen some real, real prob- of my colleagues and other readers of the joined in 1962 with his father's gentle persua- lems that just break your heart. And those sion) as the club's sponsor for the UT Circle RECORD. types of things change your life. That's one K'ers, and, in Mary's words, was ``the most [From Kiwanis Magazine, Oct. 2000] of the reasons I love Kiwanis, because we're eligible bachelor in town.'' Now, it seems the people on the other end. We're so lucky AT THE HEART OF BO SHAFER that Mary, who was a UT education major, a to be able to help others.'' former Miss Knoxville contestant (who won (By Chuck Jonak) Bo's servant heart was nurtured by his par- Miss Congeniality), and the Sweetheart of At Cain Seed Hollow, Bo and Mary Shafer's ents. His mother, Evelyn, age 93, with whom Circle K, had been spotted on campus by Bo. he lunches nearly every Wednesday, has a family finds a Tennessean slice of paradise. ``THE REASON GUYS DON'T ASK OUT GIRLS IS master's degree in child development. She Norris Lake laps lightly at its banks some BECAUSE WE'RE HUGE CHICKENS'' 100 feet below the cottage's second-story taught school for a while but then stayed home to raise Bo, his twin sister, and his In September 1966, Mary was helping to or- deck. Leaves rustle, Hummingbirds flit ganize a benefit fashion show. Knowing that about in zigzag flight. Vixen lazes away her brother and other sister. His father, Alex, who died in 1967, was the Bo was in the military, she phoned him to dog's life, napping between the two rocking ask if he would model in his uniform. He de- chairs where Bo and Mary watch the sun set son of a West Virginia railroad machinist, an insurance agent, and a Knoxville Kiwanian. clined but said, ``You sure sound pretty; I'm over the river lake's distant horizon. The going to come downtown and see you,'' quite's so loud, you can hear yourself think. In 1965 alone, he was the Kentucky-Ten- nessee Kiwanis District governor, the Knox- which he did. (What a line!) Soaking up the serenity, Bo reflects on the Though Mary had a boyfriend at the time, ville Elk Club exalted leader, and a local countless good times centered on this rustic Bo was persistent, and they eventually began school board member. Still, Bo's dadÐand retreat he carved into a plot of sloping dating. She recalls that on their first date, his motherÐalways were involved in their woods: a fireplace crackling on a winter's they went to his office, and some little boys children's activities. night with his beloved wife snuggling close; stopped by with their report cards. He had a churning up homemade ice cream while his ``DON'T WORRY THAT YOUR CHILDREN AREN'T practice of rewarding these disadvantaged young daughter, Heidi, stands wide-eyed by LISTENING TO YOU; WORRY THAT THEY'RE kids with a dollar for good grades, which he his side; the scent of the forest as he cuts WATCHING YOU'' did, and then he sent the boys on their way, fallen trees with his teenage son, Andy; the ``I had a very supportive family. My par- reminding them to brush their teeth. inner-tube train filled with his kids' friends ents were the biggest influence on me by far, ``I just thought he was the nicest, most bouncing and laughing behind a slow-moving and my daddy influenced me most on com- others-centered person I had ever met,'' speedboat's wake. Soon, a grandchild (or two munity service,'' Bo recalls. ``He had a good Mary recalls. ``He has a real heart for other or three) will create new memories, gleefully heart; he always was helping people.'' people. He never gets mad. He doesn't talk playing below on his kids' swingsÐnow still.