CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E24 HON
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E24 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 14, 2013 IN HONOR OF JAMES J. SWEENEY never hesitated to take on the reins of respon- CONGRATULATING THE 2012 BCS sibility when action was needed. Yet, she was NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, THE UNI- HON. PATRICK MEEHAN always a true lady, winning over hearts with VERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON OF PENNSYLVANIA her generous spirit and words of encourage- TIDE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment. When Helen believed in a cause, she in- Monday, January 14, 2013 HON. JO BONNER vested herself into its success with every OF ALABAMA Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ounce of energy she had to offer. She devoted IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES honor James J. Sweeney of Havertown, Penn- more than 50 years to numerous boards and Monday, January 14, 2013 sylvania. Mr. Sweeney entered the United agencies, including the Order of the Eastern States Navy after graduating from high school Star, Kentucky Public Retirees, along with Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay in 1943, and served aboard the USS Hancock. local, state and national Republican politics. In tribute to an exceptional group of young men The Hancock took part in some of World War honor of her tireless dedication, Helen was re- who, for the second year in a row, have distin- II’s most pivotal battles, including the inva- cently inducted into the Pulaski County Lincoln guished themselves as the undisputed na- sions of the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Oki- Club Hall of Fame and the Republican 5th tional champions of college football. On Janu- nawa. Mr. Sweeney was honored for his he- District Hall of Fame. ary 7, 2013, the University of Alabama Crim- roic service and awarded the Philippines Lib- Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me son Tide captured the BCS National Cham- eration Medal, two Battles Stars and a Presi- in honoring an irreplaceable friend to southern pionship with a decisive 42 to 14 victory over dential Unit Commendation. Kentucky, the late Helen Hansford. the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. It was during his time in the Navy, that Mr. By clinching their third BCS national cham- Sweeney befriended his shipmate, John Finn. pionship in four years, the Crimson Tide has f Lieutenant Finn received the Medal of Honor cemented their place in college football history for his heroic actions at Pearl Harbor. During IN HONOR OF CHARLOTTE and prompted some to ask if this remarkable the Japanese surprise attack, Lieutenant Finn ELLSWORTH team might be unequalled in the storied an- manned his machine gun and fought off the nals of the game. Japanese Zeroes for two and half hours even As Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham as he took an onslaught of bullets and shrap- HON. SAM FARR News observed in a January 8 op-ed, nel. And for the past nine years, James OF CALIFORNIA All the while Notre Dame was reliving his- tory, Alabama was making it. All over the Sweeney has tirelessly worked to honor Lieu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tenant John Finn, who passed away in 2009. golden domes of the Fighting Irish. Only one On February 15th, 2011, those efforts proved Monday, January 14, 2013 team played like a champion Monday in the BCS National Championship Game. Only one successful as the Navy announced that a new Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to team shook down the thunder with old- guided missile destroyer will be named the honor the life and work of a remarkable moth- school football and woke up the echoes of the USS John Finn. For these efforts Mr. er, wife, friend, and public servant. Charlotte greatest dynasties in the sport. Yea Ala- Sweeney is being honored by American Le- Ellsworth passed away just before Christmas. bama. The Crimson Tide became the third gion Post 667 in Havertown. On behalf of a I had the great fortune of meeting her through program in the poll era of college football grateful Nation, I congratulate Mr. Sweeney on her work at the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, history to win a third national championship in four years by taking apart the first pro- his efforts to ensure that Lieutenant Finn’s where I often encountered her during meet- name and legacy lives on, and for his service gram to do it. The Notre Dame champions of ings or events related to the reuse of Fort Ord. 1946, 1947 and 1949 would appreciate the Ala- during World War II, reflecting great credit At FORA, Charlotte was the ever present bama champions of 2009, 2011 and 2012 be- upon himself and the United States Navy. cheerful voice on the phone or steady pres- cause Alabama’s third title came at Notre f ence at sometimes heated public meetings. I Dame’s expense, right in Notre Dame’s face. Given that Alabama plays in a South- IN MEMORY OF HELEN HANSFORD know that all of us who have worked with FORA, either as community leaders, members eastern Conference that’s won seven straight of the public, or her colleagues, will miss her BCS titles, in a state with a rival in Auburn HON. HAROLD ROGERS that interrupted this parade with its own very much. championship, we’re witnessing the greatest OF KENTUCKY Charlotte was born in Carmel, California, on run in college football history. Greater than IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 5, 1953. Her family lived in Seaside, Notre Dame in the 1940s, Alabama in the Monday, January 14, 2013 California, at the time, but moved to nearby 1970s or Nebraska in the 1990s. To win it again Monday was special. To do Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I Prunedale in 1954. Her father was a painter and foreman of a glass shop on Fort Ord and it against Notre Dame, Alabama’s historical rise today to pay tribute to one of my dearest nemesis, was memorable. To leave no doubt friends and a jewel of southern Kentucky, the was eventually promoted as Engineer of the on the scoreboard leaves no doubt in the de- late Helen Hansford. Presidio of Monterey. She attended Echo Val- bate. This was history. This is a dynasty. Helen was a staunch Republican since the ley Elementary School in Prunedale and grad- The best we’ve ever seen. The best there’s day she was old enough to officially register, uated from Watsonville High School in the ever been. at the age of 21. From then on, she stood firm class of 1970. Congratulations to head coach Nick Saban, on conservative principles with her sweet Charlotte was a lifelong member of the Las and coaches Burton Burns, Mike Groh, Doug southern charm. Helen became a member of Lomas Full Gospel Church in Watsonville, Nussmeier, Jeff Stoutland, Jeremy Pruitt, Kirby the Republican Women’s Club in 1966, served where she married Kenneth Ellsworth, a sol- Smart, Lance Thompson, Bobby Williams, as an executive committee member of Ken- dier at Fort Ord, in 1974. In 1975, Charlotte Chris Rumph, Scott Cochran, and Joe tucky’s Republican Party for more than 20 and Ken moved to Castroville, where she lived Pannunzio. And, above all, congratulations to years, and attended every Republican Na- until her passing. Charlotte and Ken welcomed the 2012 BCS Champion Crimson Tide foot- tional Convention since 1984, until news of a a son, Kenneth Jr., in 1976. Kenneth Jr. and ball team: Edward Aldag, Ryan Anderson, malignant brain tumor interrupted her plans in his wife, Edith, both serve as police officers in Jonathan Atchison, Dakota Ball, Parker 2011. Salinas, California. They recently welcomed a Barrineau, Kenny Bell, Deion Belue, Jerrod Helen’s husband, the late Sherman baby girl, Alyssa, who was the light of Char- Bierbower, Chris Black, Chris Bonds, Hunter Hansford, served as Pulaski County Sheriff for lotte’s life and who Ken Sr. laughingly says Bush, Brent Calloway, Caleb Castille, Ha Ha many years. During his service, Helen was ‘‘will not be a police officer.’’ Clinton-Dix, Landon Collins, Levi Cook, Amari right by Sherman’s side, serving as a deputy Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole Cooper, Trey DePriest, Denzel Devall, Quinton sheriff and office clerk. She had a passion for House in extending our condolences to Char- Dial, Josh Dickerson, Xzavier Dickson, Dillon public service and believed in being a part of lotte Ellsworth’s family, friends, and col- Drake, Kenyan Drake, Dustin Ellison, Phillip transforming her hometown and helping others leagues. The loss of such a remarkable per- Ely, Malcolm Faciane, LaMichael Fanning, succeed. In fact, Helen’s heartbeat raced for son is particularly painful. I hope that all of D.J. Fluker, Cade Foster, Jalston Fowler, Kurt the children in Pulaski County Schools. As the those affected by her early passing can take Freitag, John Fulton, Brandon Greene, Adam Executive Assistant to the Pulaski County comfort in the remarkable difference that she Griffith, Caleb Gulledge, Rowdy Harrell, Dee Schools Superintendent and a member of the made in the lives of all those that she Hart, Tyler Hayes, Ben Howell, Adrian Hub- Pulaski County Board of Education, Helen touched. bard, Brandon Ivory, Kelly Johnson, Nico VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:58 Jan 15, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A14JA8.013 E14JAPT1 rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with.