1210 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 161, Pt. 1 January 26, 2015 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNI- On this day, Azeri patriots stood up for their HONORING THE DEDICATED SERV- VERSARY OF BLACK JANUARY freedom, sealing the fate of the Soviet empire ICE OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S and forever changing the history of the world. SUE PARDUE HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO I ask my colleagues to join me in standing OF GUAM with the people of Azerbaijan today in solitude HON. JEFF MILLER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and gratitude for their passion for independ- OF FLORIDA Monday, January 26, 2015 ence and remembrance of the lives lost on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, one of the Black January. seminal events in 20th century was the de- Monday, January 26, 2015 f mise of the Soviet Union, which altered the Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is balance of power in the world, most pro- RECOGNITION OF DEAN LESTER’S with great sadness that I rise to recognize the foundly in Europe and Central Asia. But the life and legacy of Northwest Florida’s beloved event that sparked the tinderbox of democratic 20 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sue Pardue. For decades, Sue was a leader uprisings through the sphere of Soviet sat- and integral part of the Northwest Florida com- ellites began in Baku, the capital of Azer- munity, and she will be missed by all who baijan. were fortunate to know her. Azerbaijanis remember the night that demo- HON. THOMAS J. ROONEY cratic fire was sparked; it was January 20, OF FLORIDA Sue married her loving husband of more than 42 years, Alvin, in 1972, before moving 1990. The Azeris called it ‘‘Black January.’’ At IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES midnight on that fateful night, 26,000 armed to Pace, Florida, where they started a family Russian troops stormed into Baku with tanks. Monday, January 26, 2015 and became an integral part of the Pace com- The weeks and months prior to Black Janu- munity. While raising her five children, Sue ary had seen a surge in the national inde- Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I also took steps to further her education, re- pendence movement. Hundreds of thousands would like to recognize a member of my staff, ceiving bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees of Azeris pushed then USSR President Mikhail Dean Lester, on his 20 years of service to the from the University of West Florida. Sue used Gorbachev’s glasnost policy by publicly House of Representatives and the people of her education and kind-hearted nature serving marching for independence and territorial in- the United States. as a counselor at many institutions in North- tegrity. Dean came to Washington, DC in January, west Florida, including Pace Assembly Min- Some of the emerging democratic groups 1995 to work for his home state Congress- istries, Santa Rosa Correctional Institute, and were projected to win seats in the upcoming woman, Representative Helen Chenoweth- Pensacola Family Care for Youth, amongst Parliamentary elections. Since only Com- Hage of Idaho. He fondly remembers the many others. munists could hold government office in a So- ‘‘united sense to accomplish things’’ in the first While raising a family and working as a viet satellite, Gorbachev moved quickly to put 100 days of that year as the House embarked counselor, Sue also took an active role in down the independence movement. on a hectic schedule to implement the Con- many community organizations helping to Gorbachev declared a state of emergency tract with America. serve the community that she loved. Sue was to repress a growing independence move- Dean must have enjoyed that fast pace, be- deeply devoted to serving the Lord, and she ment. The Soviet heavyhandedness served served for many years as head of the Chil- only to elevate Azeri resolve and passion. So- cause even when Congress slows down or goes into recess, he maintains a full schedule. dren’s Ministries at Pace Assembly of God viet troops, under orders to ‘‘restore order,’’ and the Women’s Ministries at Pensacola First tried dispersing the throngs of peaceful Azeri Over time, he began working for multiple House offices at once, and he now serves as Assembly of God, while also holding a position demonstrators by firing arbitrarily into the on the church’s board. In addition to her serv- crowds on the Baku streets, killing women and office and financial administrator to eight dif- ferent members of Congress. In total, Dean ice at her church, Sue was deeply involved in children who were among the protesters call- many other organizations, including: Con- ing for independence from the Soviet Union. has worked for 20 members of Congress in 20 years. cerned Citizens for Gifted Children, Crisis Line Over 130 Azeris were killed in the violence Counseling, RSVP Advisory Board, Red of Black January; 611 were injured, nearly Dean is an irreplaceable member of every Cross, Advisory Board for Children’s Home, 1,000 were arrested, and five were never staff on which he serves. He tracks our budg- Advisory Board for Guardian Ad Litem, Pace found. ets, manages our office moves, and ensures Water System, Family Promise, Pregnancy Human Rights Watch’s report ‘‘Black Janu- all of our equipment is working properly; in Resource Center, and Santa Rosa County ary in Azerbaijan,’’ said that, ‘‘among the most short, Dean makes sure the trains run on time. Bond Review Board. heinous violations of human rights during the He knows every inch of this building and every To some, Sue will be remembered as a de- Baku incursion were the numerous attacks on trick of the trade. When a problem arises, we medical personnel, ambulances and even hos- voted servant of Jesus Christ, working tire- call Dean and we can always count on him to lessly to spread His word at her church and pitals.’’ Human Rights Watch concluded, ‘‘The fix it. punishment inflicted on Baku by Soviet sol- throughout Northwest Florida. To others she Dean is a mentor and guide not just to diers may have been intended as a warning to will be remembered as a highly educated, younger staff members but to senior staff and nationalists, not only in Azerbaijan, but in hard-working, and dedicated counselor. To her members of Congress as well. Through it all, other Republics of the Soviet Union.’’ family and friends, she will always be remem- The standoff between nationalists in Azer- he maintains a sense of humor, an upbeat at- bered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, baijan and the Soviet leaders in Moscow esca- titude, and a positive view of what we can ac- and great-grandmother. lated into an Azeri threat to hold a referendum complish together. He reminds us of why we On behalf of the United States Congress, on secession unless Soviet troops withdrew in came here and what an incredible, once-in-a- my wife Vicki and I send our deepest condo- 48 hours. Soviet troops were hampered when lifetime opportunity it is to serve. lences and prayers to Sue’s husband, Alvin; Azerbaijani oil tankers blockaded the Baku Dean, we could not do our jobs without you. her children, Donna, Deniece, Brian, Edwin, harbor, keeping Soviet naval vessels at bay. For your tireless work ethic, your dedication to and Calvin; her seven grandchildren and two Soviet forces withdrew, but formal independ- Congress and the people of this great country, great-grandchildren; and the entire Pardue ence would come nearly two years later. and your 20 years of service, we salute you. family. ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 14:35 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 049102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR15\E26JA5.000 E26JA5 rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with BOUND RECORD January 26, 2015 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 161, Pt. 1 1211 IN HONOR OF 2015 NASCAR HALL truly an honor to extend these congratulatory er were instantly killed in the crash. Miracu- OF FAME INDUCTEE BILL ELLIOTT remarks for United States Army veteran Wen- lously, the Gutzler’s youngest daughter, dell Scott for his racing career and his post- seven-year-old Sailor, emerged from the HON. RICHARD HUDSON humous induction into the NASCAR Hall of wreckage alive and as the lone survivor. With OF NORTH CAROLINA Fame. a broken wrist, no shoes, and wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, the second grader bravely IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f searched the cold, dark forest for nearly a mile Monday, January 26, 2015 IN HONOR OF 2015 NASCAR HALL until she found the only inhabited house in a Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to OF FAME INDUCTEE FRED 1,400 acre area. honor and congratulate racing legend Bill El- LORENZEN Young Sailor arrived at the home of Larry liott upon his induction into the sixth class of Wilkins, ‘‘with lips trembling, crying, trying to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There is a rhyme HON. RICHARD HUDSON talk’’ according to Wilkins. This brave young that holds true about this inductee, ‘‘Awesome OF NORTH CAROLINA girl, grief stricken and mangled, managed to point authorities in the direction of the crash, Bill from Dawsonville.’’ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Dawsonville, Georgia, native got his but is left without her parents, and with the Monday, January 26, 2015 first career win at the 1976 Carolina 500 at trauma of this tragic event.