November 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2287 an able political voice in Southern Missouri for RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE Championship, they achieved a level of suc- more than half a century, and she was known AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS cess that had never before been seen by the far outside the boundaries of Doniphan, MO, OF CHEMISTRY TO OUR EVERY- organization or their fans. I join all of Texas in her home sweet home. DAY LIVES AND SUPPORTING recognizing the players, Owner and CEO Dorothy missed only one Republican na- THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NA- Drayton McLane, Jr., General Tim tional convention between 1952 to 2000, and TIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK Purpura, Manager Phil Garner, also known as not only did she attend, but she was an active ‘‘Scrap Iron,’’ and the entire participant. She attended numerous State Lin- HON. SILVESTRE REYES organization for their outstanding performance coln Days over the years, traveling from OF TEXAS in 2005. Doniphan to St. Louis, Kansas City or Spring- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The city of Houston was awarded a Major field and one year, after vacationing in Florida, Monday, November 7, 2005 League franchise on October 17, 1960. The she decided she just couldn’t miss it, so she team, then known as the Colt .45s, began play Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support took a bus by herself from Florida to Kansas in the 1962 season. With the opening of the of H. Res. 457, a resolution that supports the City. Although Dorothy didn’t have a plan on Houston in 1965, the Colt .45s be- endeavors of the American Chemical Society how to get back to Doniphan, she just knew came the Astros, and they have been recog- to unite businesses, schools, and individuals someone would be there from Southern Mis- nized by that name for the past 40 years. Led in celebrating the importance of chemistry in souri and she could ride home with them! by players such as Cesar Cedeno, , the lives of Americans. I also recall many wonderful Labor Day pa- , —’s all-time Scientists have led us in the pursuit of dis- rades in Doniphan: Dorothy was always there king, —Houston’s first Cy covery and innovation, which has helped recruiting people to ride the floats or helping Young Award winner, Jose Cruz, , make America a great nation. In order to edu- with the decorations. One year, it rained so and the other ‘‘Killer B’s,’’ Hous- cate the next generation of scientists, in my hard they canceled the parade, but Dorothy, ton has been a first-class franchise over the congressional district local school districts and ever the patriot, decided it was a shame to course of four decades. While reaching the colleges are actively working to educate future waste all our time and effort, so we had our chemists. It will be this generation of students playoffs in six of the past nine years, the own parade down Walnut Street. who will lead our society to the next frontiers Astros have proven their skill on the diamond Dorothy Burford’s father, T.L. Wright, started of science. and in the front office. a lumber company in Doniphan which later be- I applaud the efforts of the American Chem- With the addition of hometown heroes came the T.L. Sand & Concrete, Co. Dorothy ical Society to educate elementary and sec- and Andy Pettitte to their al- graduated from Stephens College in Colum- ondary school students about the positive ef- ready impressive roster, the Astros reached bia, MO, and, being the oldest of 8 children, fects of chemistry and to encourage them to the Championship Series in took over the business when her father died in consider chemistry as a career. 2004. Expectations were high going into 2005, 1928. Not only was it a rare thing for a woman Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in recog- but the team faced several roadblocks to to graduate college in the 1920’s, it was even nizing the goals of National Chemistry Week, begin the season. By the end of May, the more infrequent that a woman would take over and I urge them to support this very worth- Astros were 15 games below .500 and had the family business. Dorothy proved herself while resolution. been written off by many baseball fans and quite capable, however. She oversaw the f members of the media. Those doubters could completion of one of T.L.’s greatest projects: not have been more wrong. Houston emerged the first concrete bridge over the Current HOUSTON ASTROS, 2005 NATIONAL as the most dangerous team in baseball over River. A year later when the bridge was ready LEAGUE CHAMPIONS the last four months of the season, making a to open, instead of doing the usual ribbon cut- historic run to the . ting, Dorothy pulled on her riding boots and HON. TED POE jumped off the bridge. Whether it was timely hitting by veteran OF TEXAS Craig Biggio, a towering by breakout Once again, Dorothy showed us a different IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES star Morgan Ensberg, or nearly flawless pitch- way of doing things. I am still among the many ing performances by , Andy Pettitte who feel she was too soon taken from us, Monday, November 7, 2005 and the incomparable Roger Clemens, the even at her estimable age of 102. All of these Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, this October, for the Houston Astros solidified their status as one of memories and stories about Dorothy only first time in history, the begin to scratch the surface of her drive, her city of Houston, Texas was represented in the the league’s elite teams. I join the city of determination, and her individuality. She was a World Series. The Houston Astros, a team Houston and the great state of Texas in con- principled, thoughtful, inspiring woman I am that I have followed since their days as the gratulating the Houston Astros for their re- proud to call my friend. She will be greatly Colt .45s, completed an extraordinary season markable 2005 season, the greatest in fran- missed, but through her legendary legacy, I by facing the Chicago White Sox in the Fall chise history. have no doubt she will live on. Classic. Although Houston fell short of a World

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