E1596 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 25, 2003 track and field programs. Each fall, the City of years working as the Executive Director of the is clear: Nyssa stands for the small town val- Harrisburg celebrates its history with a Past to Southeast Missouri Legal Services, an agency ues that still echo in the hearts of the people Present Festival. As well, Harrisburg has to assist people with low incomes in dire need who call it home. served as a vital part of the coal industry in of legal counseling. Known as the Gateway City to Oregon, southern Illinois for many years. Like her husband, Betty Hearnes is an Nyssa is located on the banks of the Snake I am proud to represent the people of the amazing mentor and friend to everyone she River on the Idaho-Oregon border. Nearby the great City of Harrisburg and to share in this meets. She was an excellent model and con- historic Oregon Trail, which brought thousands special occasion with them. I thank them for fidante during the seventies and eighties when of settlers across the continent to the West, all they give to this great nation and I wish the Missouri legislature had very few women remains visible to this day. Nyssa’s history as them many successes in the years to come. in office. In 1979, Betty won the same Mis- a town began in 1883 with the arrival of the Congratulations! souri House seat her husband held years Oregon Short Line Railroad, though the area prior. In addition, she served as Chairwoman was familiar terrain to the fur traders who op- f of the Democratic State Committee, President erated along the Snake River in the early IN RECOGNITION OF FORMER MIS- of the Mississippi County Industrial Develop- 1800s. The town’s first Post Office was estab- SOURI GOVERNOR WARREN E. ment Authority, as a major facilitator of the lished in 1889 and the incorporation of Nyssa HEARNES AND FORMER MIS- Warren E. Hearnes Museum, and a volunteer occurred in 1903, when the town had gained SOURI STATE REPRESENTATIVE currently involved in countless civic and char- enough residents to merit elected city officials. BETTY COOPER HEARNES ity projects. Today Warren and Betty continue In the generations that have followed the to spend time in Charleston, Missouri serving founding of Nyssa, the community has been HON. KAREN McCARTHY those most in need. Their endless generosity home to hardworking farmers and ranchers is an inspiration to us all. who have made their homes in the high desert OF MISSOURI I congratulate Warren and Betty Hearnes on of Oregon. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES this meaningful occasion and shared birthday. The community was immeasurably enriched Thursday, July 24, 2003 I am grateful for their friendship and am hon- by the revival of federal irrigation projects in ored to recognize them for their vast personal the area, such as the Owyhee Dam which was Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I accomplishments and lifetime of public serv- completed in 1932 to provide water for rise today to honor two great Missourians, ice. 120,000 acres of arid land surrounding Nyssa. Governor Warren E. Hearnes and his wife, The miracle of irrigated agriculture made the f State Representative Betty Cooper Hearnes high desert of Oregon bloom and made pos- on their birthdays. PERSONAL EXPLANATION sible the way of life that continues today. In I salute the accomplishments of Governor the 1930s, many citizens of the Great Plains Hearnes and Representative Hearnes. I HON. MIKE ROGERS relocated to the area, drawn by the warmth of worked alongside Betty in the General Assem- the people and the quality of life offered by the bly. In true fashion, she does not want to be OF MICHIGAN community. By the late 1930s, the number of recognized for her accomplishments, but I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES acres being irrigated had attracted the sugar would be remiss not to mention her great con- Thursday, July 24, 2003 beet industry, and Nyssa saw the opening of tributions to our State as an elected official the Amalgamated Sugar Company, a sugar Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on and First Lady. The Hearnes have shared sig- processing plant that came into operation in the legislative day of Wednesday, July 23, nificant roles in the State of Missouri, shaped Nyssa in 1938. Agriculture remains the base 2003, the House had a procedural vote on the and crafted sound public policy, and served as of the local economy, and most businesses FY 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations beacons of light for our citizens and our party. cater to farm production and marketing of bill. On House rollcall vote No. 424, I was un- The Hearnes celebrate the same birthday products, which include sugar, onions, pota- avoidably detained. Had I been present, I and today marks Warren’s 80th birthday and toes, corn, mint, and wheat. would have voted ‘‘no.’’ Betty’s 76th birthday. I salute the remarkable Like many communities in Oregon, the longevity of their lives together and their life- f growth in agriculture during the first half of the long commitment to public service. NYSSA 100TH CENTENNIAL century brought immigrant families to Nyssa to Warren Hearnes is renowned for his tenac- work the land. Many Hispanic families traveled ity and principles as a public official. Governor to the area, where they raised their children Hearnes is a graduate from West Point Mili- HON. GREG WALDEN and established roots that endure to this day. tary Academy, as well as from the University OF OREGON Nyssa also became home to many Dutch im- of Missouri Columbia Law School. After serv- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES migrants and later a number of Japanese- ing in the U.S. Army during World War II, he Americans who were interned during World Thursday, July 24, 2003 was elected to the Missouri House of Rep- War II. Many of these internees remained in resentatives the following year, and later went Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise the area after the war ended, where they con- on to serve as Secretary of State. He will long this evening to pay tribute to the community of tinue to add to the richness of the town’s his- be remembered for his unwavering stance to Nyssa in eastern Oregon’s Malheur County tory. promote state autonomy. Governor Hearnes’ and to commemorate the passage of an im- Despite the ups and downs of the Oregon fight with the Johnson administration often portant milestone in the history of the town. farm economy and the need for many towns- made him disliked by the presidency but ad- This weekend the people of Nyssa will com- people to find work outside of town, the peo- mired by his colleagues in the National Gov- memorate the centennial anniversary of the in- ple of Nyssa have remained loyal to their com- ernors Conference throughout the sixties and corporation of their community. This is an munity. The town has maintained an excellent seventies. event that symbolizes the endurance of the school system and the population remains sta- During his time in office, the state legislature eastern Oregon way of life and the continuity ble at 3,100. overwhelmingly approved and the people rati- that exists between the earliest settlers of our Mr. Speaker, since Nyssa was founded it fied a constitutional amendment to allow future state and the people who proudly identify has been home to hearty, self-reliant people Governors of Missouri to serve two consecu- themselves as Oregonians today. who are proud of their history, loyal to their tive four year terms. Thus, Governor Hearnes There is some debate about the origin of families and community, and representative of ran for and won a second term with the larg- the name Nyssa. Some say it is an acronym the rural way of life that still means as much est percentage of popular votes in Missouri for the New York Sheep Shearing Association, to the people who live here as it did a hundred history. In his second term he facilitated re- which sounds plausible enough given the tra- years ago. It is both a privilege and an honor forms to improve universities and colleges, dition of shepherding throughout the town’s to represent the good people of Nyssa in the ushered in massive road improvements, and history. Others insist that the town was named U.S. House of Representatives. I congratulate supported the troops in Vietnam but ques- by the daughter of a railroad engineer who them on the occasion of the Centennial of tioned the administration’s plan to pursue such was reading a book on ancient history and their community, and I look forward to trav- a war. Following his term in office, he contin- named the town after St. Gregory of Nyssa. eling to Nyssa this weekend to share in the ued his public advocacy by spending sixteen Whatever the source of the name, this much celebration with my good friends. VerDate Jan 31 2003 04:22 Jul 27, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A24JY8.028 E25PT1.