December 17, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E2335 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. TRIBUTE TO PRINCIPAL WEAVER president, Wilda Spalding. I'm convinced that MORRIS ``MO'' UDALL ODOM if there were more people like Wilda Spalding, than such lofty goals as world peace would HON. THOMAS C. SAWYER HON. GENE GREEN not seem nearly so elusive. For 25 years, Ms. OF OHIO OF TEXAS Spalding, the President of World Wins Cor- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES poration, has waged a one-person campaign in support of universal human rights, peace, Thursday, December 17, 1998 Thursday, December 17, 1998 and justice. She has devoted an incredible Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this Mr. GREEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my amount of her own time and resources in this week my friend and predecessor in this great colleagues in Congress to join me in paying effort. Among her proudest accomplishments body, John Seiberling, called and asked that I tribute to an outstanding individual, Mr. Wea- was working with the United Nations to estab- insert into the RECORD of our work his ver Odom. Mr. Odom recently will retire after lish the UN's Year of the Child. thoughts on his friend and colleague, Mo serving the Aldine Intermediate School District I first became aware of Ms. Spalding in the Udall. for 35 years, 31 of which has principal of Co- summer of 1998, when World Wins Corpora- To all of us who knew and worked with Mo lonial Hills Elementary. tion issued a medal of excellence to my close Udall, he will always be an indelible model of Weaver Odom joined Aldine ISD in 1963 friend, Blinky Rodriguez. Blinky is the architect all that we can be and do as lawmakers and and spent the first few years of his career as of the Valley Peace Treaty, which during the as leaders, and as friends to one another a fifth and sixth grade teacher. In 1968 he be- past five years has brought about a remark- even in the most difficult times. came temporary principal at Colonial Hills, but able reduction in the number of gang killings I am grateful and honored that John Seiber- the temporary label was dropped. His 31 in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. ling would ask me to share his words in this years of dedicated service will leave a legacy Those of us who live and work in the North- way. for students and teachers alike. east Valley are well aware of Blinky's work, December 14, 1998. We in the Aldine ISD has been very fortu- and we were all very moved when he was rec- Re Hon. Morris Udall. nate to have benefited from Mr. Odom's dedi- ognized by Wilda Spalding and World Wins The death on December 12 of Morris ``Mo'' cation and loyalty. He always led by example Corporation. Blinky joined 14 other winners of Udall has taken from us one of the most and frequently welcomed students to school. the Medal of Excellence in Geneva, Switzer- loved, most respected, and most accom- Because he always treated others with respect land, where he was feted in front of an inter- plished Members of Congress in this genera- and dignity, the people who work for him and national audience of dignitaries. tion. attend his school consider him their friend as Mo Udall was a BIG person, in every sense I will always be grateful to Ms. Spalding for of the word. He was big not only in physical well as their principal. bestowing this prestigious and richly-deserved stature but also in strength of character, in- Staff, faculty and students alike have spo- honor on Blinky. tellectual acumen, unfailing good humor, po- ken out in appreciation for Mr. Odom's work I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting litical vision, and understanding of the ethic and love for his students. His staff is so Wilda Spalding, President of World Wins Cor- House and its constitutional role. loyal that almost half of the school's employ- poration, for her dedication to making ours a I first became acquainted with Mo in 1970, ees have been there for more then 10 years. better world. She is a shining example for us when he came to Akron to help me, a politi- Many have admitted they stay simply because all. cal underdog, in my ultimately successful Principal Odom makes working at Colonial f campaign for election to the House. After I was elected, he helped me become one of his Hills fun. In honor of Weaver Odom, the Aldine ISD CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. J. MI- colleagues on the Committee on Interior and CHAEL BISHOP FOR RECEIVING Insular Affairs, which he later chaired with recently announced it's decision to rename great distinction for over a decade. There I Colonial Hills to Odom Elementary. This honor THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR had the privilege of working with him on is an appropriate way to thank Principal Odom CELL BIOLOGY'S 1998 PUBLIC some of the landmark environmental legisla- for his dedication and leadership at the school SERVICE AWARD tive efforts that he led. These produced the and throughout the community. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Education is the key to our children's future HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS Act of 1977, which curbed the destructive and the key to our country's continued suc- OF PENNSYLVANIA practices of coal stripmining, and the Alaska IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES National Interest Lands Conservation Act, cess. Principal Odom shares this belief and probably the most monumental land con- has worked with his faculty and staff to ensure Thursday, December 17, 1998 that all students have an opportunity for qual- servation measure ever enacted. Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to Mo's unswerving devotion to his native Ar- ity education. The twenty-first century will bring to the attention of my colleagues the izona, to the Congress, and to America's land bring new challenges for our young people. name of J. Michael Bishop, M.D. Dr. Bishop and people, can and should serve as a model Principal Odom has been committed to edu- received the American Society for Cell Biolo- for generations to come. The widespread re- cating them to deal with these challenges. gy's 1998 Public Service Award on Sunday, spect which Mo enjoyed resulted not only For years, families have known this school from his vision and courage but also his fair- December 13, 1998. On behalf of the Con- is run by a man dedicated to providing an en- ness and eagerness to seek common ground gressional Biomedical Research Caucus, I vironment conducive to learning. I am certain with colleagues on opposing sides of legisla- want to extend our deepest congratulations to that the strength of the community would not tive issues. Above all, I shall always remem- Dr. Bishop for his outstanding scientific and ber Mo as a warm and loyal friend, always be what it is without Mr. Odom's years of serv- educational accomplishments. Last year, I was considerate, humorous, and kind. ice and I am confident that his legacy will con- pleased to receive the same Public Policy In 1980, Mo told me that his doctors had tinue for years to come. Award. I am honored that for once in my life- just informed him that he had Parkinson's f disease. So began his valiant eighteen year time, a Nobel Laureate is actually following in struggle, during which his courage and se- TRIBUTE TO WILDA SPALDING my footsteps. renity continued to inspire his friends and Nearly 10 years ago, Dr. Bishop, along with family. To his wife, Norma, son Mark, newly HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN other scientists, proposed a forum where sci- elected to the House, his brother Stewart, entists could brief the Congress and its staff and the other members of Mo's family, I OF CALIFORNIA on the latest discoveries in biomedical re- share your sense of loss, but also memories IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES search. Thus was born the Congressional Bio- of his indomitable spirit and undying friend- Thursday, December 17, 1998 ship. Truly, love endures and, in the end, medical Research Caucus, which has now prevails. Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to conducted over seventy-five briefings, pro- JOHN F. SEIBERLING. pay tribute to World Wins Corporation and its vided the Congress with a first-rate science · 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. E2336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks December 17, 1998 education, and has served to identify a biparti- This family, with eight generations having Everett Dirksen. The next day LBJ pressed san group of Members who actively support made this county their home, is a living testa- Martin Luther King Jr. and other black lead- funding for medical research. The Biomedical ment to its appeal. I send to all of them my ers to turn their energy to registering black voters. Research Caucus has provided a forum for warmest best wishes. LBJ planned every detail of the signing presentations that have made a remarkable f ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. He wanted and lasting impression on our views of what ``a section for special people I can invite,'' the proper role that the Congress should play THE MAN BEHIND THE VOTES such as Rosa Parks (the 42-year-old black in appropriating funds for the National Insti- seamstress who refused to give up her seat tutes of Health and Science Programs.