E20 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 8, 2014 HONORING HERBERT ALLEN, SR. I extend my deepest congratulations to reform legislation, implementing a federal Page Lambert for her well deserved honor by missing-child registry and various environ- the West Chamber serving Jefferson County. mental protections, all of which were monu- HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON mental in their own right. But seniors are OF MISSISSIPPI I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedi- forever grateful for the dogged determina- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cation and character in all her future accom- tion Shaw displayed as chairman of the plishments. House Social Security Subcommittee when Wednesday, January 8, 2014 f he took on a law long past its expiration Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- date. er, I rise to honor a long standing black farm- PERSONAL EXPLANATION As chairman of a national seniors organi- er, Mr. Herbert Allen, Sr. of ‘‘Allen Farm’’. He zation, and having grown up in the Fort Lau- derdale/Hollywood part of Rep. Shaw’s dis- and his family are residents of Silver City in HON. KENNY MARCHANT trict, and having testified on his legislation, Humphreys County, MS where generations of OF TEXAS I was at the front lines cheering when this Allens have been farming since the 1940s, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES law passed, and recall that Shaw shared with which gives them over 70 years. Wednesday, January 8, 2014 me many of the reactions from working sen- The story of the Allen family as black farm- iors. ‘‘People would think I was rich and off ers includes major setbacks, but they are still Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, due to my fishing somewhere,’’ Shaw’s barber told him in operation today. Grandpa Nathan Allen plane flight to Washington, DC being canceled at the time, ‘‘because my shop was closed started with 40 acres of land in an effort to yesterday, I was unable to vote for the the last months of the year. It just made no sense to stay open, as I was essentially work- provide a decent living for himself, his wife, Quorum Call of January 7, 2014. Had my flight not been canceled, I would have answered the ing for free. This way, thanks to your legis- and 6 children. After he died, his son Herbert lation, I can continue to earn money which Allen, Sr. began operating the 40-acre farm Quorum Call as ‘‘present.’’ I can then happily spend at Christmas on and grew it into 323 acres. Herbert and his f gifts for our grandkids.’’ wife, Nomie, raised 9 children on that small Upon his return to Washington after a rou- ‘‘E. CLAY SHAW: A CONGRESSMAN tine recess, Clay related to me not only his and hard to come by income because again WHO MATTERED,’’ BY JIM MARTIN the challenges of the black families were real. barber’s reaction, but also the response he received from a 66-year-old waitress who In fact they raised most of the food they used HON. JOHN L. MICA served him breakfast one morning. ‘‘Mr. to feed their family. Shaw, I had to tell my manager I couldn’t OF FLORIDA Mr. Speaker and colleagues, the odds have work the last months of the year, as I made been great and many: Depression, rainy and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES no money. Fixing this law is a huge relief to dry crop years with little to sometimes no gov- Wednesday, January 8, 2014 me, my boss and my regular customers who often ask for me during my absence.’’ ernment compensation, floods, bad loans, too Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share little loans, and other unfortunate things, but While Congress is always an easy target at with my colleagues a eulogy Jim Martin, a which to aim our nation’s considerable polit- again, through it all they survived. good friend and former Chief of Staff to the ical frustrations, it’s important to remember Herbert Allen, Sr. operated the farm for over late Senator Edward Gurney (R–FL), wrote re- and honor dedicated public servants like 50 years until his death in 2006, then Herbert, calling the great and influential life in public Clay Shaw who got up every day intending to Jr. and his brother, Freddie, took over the op- service of former Florida Congressman E. use their clout to bridge the aisle to make eration. Although the two brothers managed life better for the people back home. Shaw Clay Shaw, Jr. As all remember, our friend the daily affairs, it was still a family affair in- was also congressman to my favorite senior, Clay passed away on September 10, 2013. volving all the siblings. There are several spin- my mother. His legacy will transcend generations, as you off businesses that have been developed: His career harkens back to a day—just a can see in the words shared by Jim, the few decades ago though it seems like ages— Allen Recycling (Canton and Yazoo City, MS), founder and chairman of the 60 Plus Associa- when institutional knowledge meant some- Allen Heating and Air (Gulfport, MS), and tion. thing, and political clout was more fre- Allen Cattle Ranch (Silver City, MS). quently a tool of bipartisan cooperation. E. CLAY SHAW: A CONGRESSMAN WHO Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Shaw is in the company of congressmen such MATTERED in honoring Mr. Herbert Allen, Sr., a black as Republican Henry Hyde of Illinois and (By Jim Martin) farmer from Mississippi’s Second Congres- Democrat Dante Fascell of Miami, and many sional District. The barber nearly lopped off the congress- others now long gone who didn’t mind a good man’s ear, but it wouldn’t have been his fight, but would never let their differences f fault if he had. For years, the tacit agree- prevent them from banding together to do PAGE LAMBERT ment that exists between every barber and the right thing on behalf of the people back customer to sit still as a statue when the home. clippers are humming was fiercely observed. America has 60 million senior citizens with HON. ED PERLMUTTER But the barber said something that startled more than 10,000 joining our ranks every day. OF COLORADO the normally reserved lawmaker to suddenly All of them, as well as those soon to join our IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES spin his head around mid-snip. ranks, owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to ‘‘Congressman,’’ the barber offered, ‘‘I’ve the gentleman from Broward County. He and Wednesday, January 8, 2014 been voting for you a long time, but this his kind are sorely missed. Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise year I’m making a donation to your cam- f today to recognize and applaud Page Lambert paign.’’ In a world of big campaign contribu- tions, a modest offering of a few dollars is HONORING FRANK WILBOURN for her outstanding service and commitment to hardly noteworthy, unless you consider the our community. source. Rep. Eugene Clay Shaw, Jr.’s home- HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON Page’s motto—Connecting People with Na- town barber in Fort Lauderdale, FL was 68 OF MISSISSIPPI ture; Connecting Writers with Words—de- years old and closed his shop the last few IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES scribes her passion and her life. For 17 years, months of the year. Far from rich and not she has partnered with professional organiza- particularly political, his pronouncement all Wednesday, January 8, 2014 tions such as True Nature Journeys, Grand but floored his long-time customer. Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- Canyon Field Institute, and the Aspen Writers’ But this was a special occasion. Under Shaw’s leadership, Congress had just passed er, I rise today to honor a prodigal farmer, Foundation to help women connect more cre- historic legislation, signed into law by Presi- Frank Wilbourn. atively with the natural world. Page serves as dent Bill Clinton in 2000, that removed a De- Mr. Wilbourn was born and raised in Marks, an advisor to national writing organizations pression-era law that cut Social Security MS. He is 71 years old and has the ageless and nonprofits such as the Children & Nature benefits for seniors who earned more than quality of someone with natural wisdom and a Network and Women Writing the West. She $17,000 per year. Though little-regarded by generous spirit. At age 22, he took the road also donates services locally—co-leading a some, this legislation had a huge impact on north for the promise of better paying jobs. two-year volunteer effort to build a community working seniors, and further struck a blow After returning home from 23 years of working horse barn for Mount Vernon using fire-mitiga- for American productivity and common- in the steels mills of Milwaukee, he bought his sense, bipartisan solutions to intractable tion timber, and serving as Creative Consult- government inertia. father’s farm and began life as one of the few ant for the Clear Creek Land Conservancy, With Shaw’s passing this month at the age local organic produce growers and the only helping to foster a deeper appreciation for of 74, the tributes honoring his 26-year career local organic produce seller in the town. This Colorado’s open spaces. in Congress invariably focus on his welfare land was purchased by his parents in 1939. VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:41 Jan 09, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A08JA8.014 E08JAPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS January 8, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E21 Mr.