June 10, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 156, Pt. 8 10445 missing persons and return them to their tailed by a back injury. A driven per- The school was opened in 1912 and families, the federal government is already son who was not going to rest on her stayed open until 1971. making efforts to facilitate this process. laurels, she earned a bachelor’s degree To celebrate the town’s anniversary, Congress should, like many American indi- in physical therapy from Marquette viduals and companies do with their own re- Dante will be having music, a softball sources, evaluate current programs, deter- University after her baseball career. In tournament, games and more. With mine any needs that may exist and prioritize 1961, she moved to California where she something for everyone, this weekend’s those needs for funding by cutting from the worked as a staff physical therapist, celebration is sure to be an enjoyable federal budget programs fraught with waste, supervisor and chief of therapy services experience as Dante comes together to fraud, abuse and duplication. for the Los Angeles County disabled celebrate this historic anniversary. I Sincerely, children’s services agency. After her would like to congratulate the people TOM A. COBURN, M.D., retirement from Los Angeles County in United States Senator. of Dante on reaching this historic mile- 1980, she continued to treat patients in stone, and offer them best wishes on f acute care on a part-time basis for the the years to come.∑ REMEMBERING DOROTHY next 6 years. In 1992, the story of Ms. Kamenshek KAMENSHEK f and the other women who played in the Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my All-American Girls Professional Base- colleagues to join me in honoring the ball League was introduced to a new TRIBUTE TO DR. ANN memory of Dorothy Kamenshek who generation of Americans by the pop- SOUTHERLAND passed away on May 17 at her home in ular movie ‘‘.’’ ∑ Mr. LEMIEUX. Mr. President, today I Palm Desert, CA. She was 84 years old. In the movie, the character of Dottie Dorothy Kamenshek was born in Nor- wish to bring special recognition to Dr. Hinson, played by Geena Davis, was Ann Marie Phillips Southerland. wood, OH, on December 21, 1925. Her presented as the best player in the gifts on the diamond were evident from league and was named Dottie as a trib- Dr. Southerland has elected to retire the time she attended the tryouts for ute to Ms. Kamenshek, who was affec- from Pensacola Junior College after 42 an all women’s baseball league in Cin- tionately known as Dottie to her years of distinguished service. She first cinnati while she was a high school friends. In 1999, Sports Illustrated joined the faculty of the PJC home eco- senior. Her performance at the tryouts named Ms. Kamenshek one of its top nomics department in 1975 and was pro- earned her an invitation to participate 100 female athletes of the 20th century. moted as an assistant professor in 1978, in the final tryouts that were held at On the field, Dorothy Kamenshek is an associate professor in 1981, a full in . From the widely regarded as the greatest female professor in 1984 and department head Wrigley Field tryouts, Ms. Kamenshek baseball player ever. Off the field, her in 1985. would emerge as one of two women legacy will be one of a pioneer who, Recognizing her devotion to student from who were selected to through sheer talent and determina- success and years of excellence in play in the fledgling All-American tion, achieved excellence in a sport teaching, Dr. Southerland was ap- Girls Professional Baseball League. that was once deemed to be beyond the pointed to the position of district di- The All-American Girls Professional physical capacity of females. Dorothy rector of vocational education in 1988 Baseball League was the brainchild of Kamenshek inspired generations of and district dean of vocational edu- Chicago Cubs owner, Phillip Wrigley, Americans to chip away at the glass cation in 1990. In this capacity, Dr. who sought to fill the void that had ceiling to follow their dreams and pur- Southerland spearheaded efforts and been created by the disbanding of many sue endeavors and careers of their own initiatives to improve curriculum, in- minor league teams as a result of choosing. struction and assessment. She chal- young men who were drafted into the She will be dearly missed. lenged her colleagues to empower stu- armed services during World War II. f dents and ensure they would enter the The existence of the All-American world with the skills to compete and Girls Professional Baseball League ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS succeed in the increasingly competi- nearly paralleled the span of Ms. tive global marketplace. Kamenshek’s playing career from 1943– 1954. During her career, Ms. 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE The success of Dr. Southerland’s con- Kamenshek all-around excellence on FOUNDING OF DANTE, SOUTH tributions to Pensacola Junior College and off the field earned her the admira- DAKOTA were measurable, and the college ap- tion of many fans and the respect of ∑ Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today pointed her to assistant vice president her peers. I pay tribute to the 100th anniversary for academic affairs and career edu- Ms. Kamenshek was undoubtedly one of the founding of Dante, SD. Small cation in 2005. Yet Dr. Southerland’s of the finest players in the All-Amer- towns like Dante embody South Da- reach has been felt far beyond the aca- ican Girls Professional Baseball kota values, and are the cornerstone of demic corridors of northwest Florida. League. The league’s all-time batting our State. She has selflessly dedicated her time, leader with a .292 average, she had a Dante was founded as a railroad town experience and energy to causes smooth left-handed swing that earned when a group of farmers were con- throughout the State of Florida—serv- her consecutive batting titles in 1946 cerned with their ability to haul grain ing as a member of the Council of Oc- and 1947. The leadoff hitter for the between Wagner and Avon. The farmers cupational Deans and working arm in , she used her speed approached the Chicago, , arm with her counterparts in all 28 in- on the base paths to create havoc for and St. Paul Railroad to set up a depot stitutions in the Florida College Sys- her opponents as she compiled 657 sto- between the towns. After getting a pe- tem. What’s more, her extensive body len bases during her career. An all- tition signed, the railroad expanded to of academic literature has been pub- around baseball player, Ms. the newly formed town. Planted in lished in numerous scholarly journals Kamenshek’s work with the glove once 1907, Dante was incorporated in 1912. and periodicals. prompted former Originally called Mayo after H.T. Mayo I wish to take this opportunity to first baseman to observe who donated the land to the town, the commend Dr. Southerland for her serv- that she was ‘‘the fanciest fielding first railroad company objected to the ice and professionalism. She has been a baseman that I’ve ever seen, man or name. Mr. Mayo was asked for a name role model and mentor for many fac- woman.’’ to which he reportedly said, ‘‘Call it ulty, staff and students at Pensacola Ms. Kamenshek would lead her team, Dante’s Inferno for all I care!’’ In 1911, Junior College. She has my sincere and the Rockford Peaches, to four cham- Dante had flourished enough to support heartfelt thanks for her devotion to pionships before her career was cur- the Dante Bowling Alley and Pool Hall. educating tomorrow’s leaders.∑

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