Extensions of Remarks E209 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
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January 30, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E209 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS IN RECOGNITION OF THE HEL- HONORING MRS. MARY EDITH A CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE TO LENIC ASSOCIATION KRIKOS ON BROWN COLEMAN ON HER 90TH THE CITY OF DOWNEY ON THE THE OCCASION OF THE GREEK BIRTHDAY OCCASION OF THE CITY’S 50TH ORTHODOX NEW YEAR YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRA- HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY TION OF INDIANA HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD OF CALIFORNIA OF NEW YORK Tuesday, January 30, 2007 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure and honor that I congratulate Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Mrs. Mary Edith Brown Coleman on a momen- Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I tous milestone, her 90th birthday, which will rise today to pay tribute to the city of Downey Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam be on February 13, 2007. Edith will be cele- and ask my colleagues to join me in congratu- Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Hel- brating this milestone with family and friends lating its residents on the city’s recent 50th an- lenic organization Krikos. Founded in 1974 to on Saturday, February 10, 2007, at her home niversary. I am honored to represent this preserve and enrich Hellenic heritage and cul- in Schererville, Indiana. Throughout the past unique and proud city as part of my 34th Con- ture, Krikos and its members are dedicated to 67 years, Edith’s presence in Northwest Indi- gressional District of California. fostering and promoting co-operation and fel- ana has allowed her the opportunity to touch Although we celebrate 50 years since the lowship among Hellenes and phil-Hellenes the lives of countless people. city’s official incorporation, the history of Dow- throughout the world, Edith Brown was born on February 13, 1917 ney begins in the late 1700s when Spanish in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was one of four missionaries settled along the California coast. In its ongoing effort to increase the under- children born to Luther Albert Brown and Dora In 1784, former soldier Juan Nietos was grant- standing of issues affecting people of Greek Rozolia Draper Brown. Having gone on to live ed provisional use of 300,000 acres of ranch descent and a greater appreciation of Hellenic in Kansas City, Kansas and Chicago, Illinois, land and, after his death, the portion of the culture, Krikos has organized more than 50 Edith finally relocated to Gary, Indiana in land lying between the San Gabriel and Rio conferences throughout the world, frequently 1940. Quite the accomplished student, Edith Hondo Rivers was carved out and named publishing reports of their proceedings, Among c6mpleted her Bachelor of Science and Mas- Rancho San Gertrudes. In 1873, a 96-acre the subjects examined at various conferences ter of Science degrees in education at Indiana parcel of the Rancho became the central dis- were topics including the growing impact of University in Bloomington. From there, she de- trict of a community called Downey City. The globalism, biotechnology, telecommunications, cided to go into the teaching profession. As a town was named after John Gately Downey, the Greek response to military conflicts in the teacher at Frederick Douglass Elementary an Irish immigrant who journeyed to California Balkans, domestic political and cultural issues, School in Gary for over 27 years, Edith was during the Gold Rush and later became gov- Hellenic and Hellenic-American contributions able to enrich the lives of so many young peo- ernor of the State. to the art land culture of the United States, ple in the Gary community. For her commit- The development of Downey City began and thought-provoking issues in Hellenic and ment to the youth of Northwest Indiana, she is slowly. A tract map from 1873 shows a town American culture. worthy of the highest praise. consisting of only 16 blocks with 10 acres for Equally as impressive, Edith has always a railroad station. However, the small city Krikos has provided guidance to college and been seen as the foundation of her family. prospered, soon becoming a commercial cen- college-bound Hellenic youth in the United She and her husband, the late William Henry ter for agricultural products and poultry raising. States and elsewhere in the world. Addition- Coleman, were blessed with the births of two It was that agricultural industry that made it ally, Krikos has made it possible for students wonderful children: Norma Louise Coleman possible for Downey to sustain itself during the to visit abroad through a world-study program. and Merle Jean Coleman. Edith’s family, as Depression. In keeping with this dedication to scholarship well as those whose lives she has touched, By the early 20th century, Downey had be- and education, Krikos donated 5,000 books to admire her for devoting unselfish love, time, come a haven for business, entering an era the Polytechnic University in Athens. dedication, guidance, and spirit to her family, that became known as the city’s ‘‘golden age.’’ her students, and her friends. Downey’s ‘‘dare devil’’ era brought the aviation Krikos was instrumental in documenting the As well as being dearly loved and respected industry to the city, and the Downey Board of artistic and historic treasures located in the by her family, her students, and her commu- Trade, known today as the Downey Chamber Saint Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai. nity, Edith is also well known for her involve- of Commerce, was founded. For hundreds of years St. Catherine’s has ment with her church, the First Church of God The 1940s and ’50s brought a population been a prime destination for pilgrims to the in Gary, and several other organizations. For boom to Downey, growing from 12,000 resi- Holy Land. Krikos and its dedicated members years, Edith has been a distinguished member dents in 1940 to over 86,000 residents by helped facilitate this sacred monument’s ability of the American Association of University 1956. With its significant increase in popu- to serve its vital mission in the modern world Women, the Women’s Association of the lation, Downey’s leaders moved to incor- by computerizing its properties and their oper- Northwest Indiana Symphony Society, the Red porate, and on December 4, 1956, the Los ations. In the past many prominent Hellenes Hat Society, and the Sigma Gamma Rho So- Angeles County Board of Supervisors ap- and phil-Hellenes have been honored by rority. Since her arrival in Northwest Indiana, proved the incorporation of the city. The new Krikos and spoken at various symposiums, Edith has always been known as a good- City Council, under the leadership of the city’s conferences and testimonial events. hearted woman who is always willing to help first mayor, James L. Stamps, were trail- This exemplary organization is now headed the people in her community. For her selfless- blazers, paving the way for the city’s resound- by Denise Constantopoulou, President, and ness, she is to be commended and admired. ing future success. Madam Speaker, Mary Edith Brown Cole- Today, Downey boasts its ‘‘Future Unlimited’ John Belleas, past President. Under their able man has always given her time and efforts slogan and is a prosperous city that has man- leadership, Krikos continues to make signifi- selflessly to the youth and the community in aged to maintain its small town atmosphere. cant and enduring contributions to Hellenic Northwest Indiana throughout her illustrious The city’s residents and visitors can enjoy a and world culture and civilization. life. She has taught every member of her fam- wide range of activities—from great shopping Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join ily and extended family the true meaning of to parks and museums; from golf courses to me in acknowledging the tremendous contribu- service to others. I respectfully ask that you the Symphony Orchestra or the model City Li- tions to the civic and cultural life of our Nation and my other distinguished colleagues join me brary. Downey is where the Apollo Space pro- and our world by Krikos and its members. in wishing Edith a very happy 90th birthday. gram began its journey to the stars, and ∑ 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 Aug 31 2005 04:31 Jan 31, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A30JA8.001 E30JAPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with REMARKS E210 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 30, 2007 where you can find the world’s oldest McDon- her more than four decades of compassionate Bachan, and Steven Darryl Mihailovich, as ald’s and the site of the first Taco Bell eatery. and visionary stewardship, the institution was well as their brothers-in-law, Donald Fifty years since its incorporation in 1956, renamed the Little Missionary’s Day Nursery in Knieriemen, a veteran of the United States Downey has grown to a population of over her honor. In 1901, the nursery purchased its Navy, and the late Henry Butch Haluska, a 110,000 residents. The city serves as a hub own building at 93 St. Mark’s Place, which has veteran of the United States Air Force. for business, with California Business Maga- remained its home ever since. Today, under To further demonstrate their desire to serve zine recently rating Downey in the top 25 per- the capable leadership of Director Eileen their country, two of these men, Joseph and cent of ‘‘100 Cities To Do Business In.’’ Dow- Johnson and Board President Herman Hewitt, Robert Bachan, chose to make careers of ney has made many outstanding contributions the Little Missionary’s Day Nursery continues their service.