February 5, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E 177 businesses, churches and public buildings Thompson of Beckley, Delegate Mary Pearl TRIBUTE TO ROBERT E. LEO, were also served by local businesses and Compton of Summers County, house majority VETERAN AND EDUCATOR emergency relief offices mentioned above. leader Jim Rowe and Delegate Bill Wallace of First I want to pay tribute, with the highest Greenbrier County, Delegate Joe Martin and HON. FRANK TEJEDA praise possible, to the Talcott Volunteer Fire Delegate Bill Proudfoot of Pocahontas County, OF TEXAS Department Chief Tom Talbott and Tim Ulrich, and State Senators Mike Ross and Walt IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his able assistant chief, in Summers CountyÐ Helmick, for their quick action along with their Thursday, February 1, 1996 for it was this volunteer fire department that colleagues in the West Virginia House of dele- stood by night and day throughout the flood's Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to gates and the State senate, to approve the intensity and afterward, and who provided pay tribute to the memory of a true patriot, a food and drink for everyone else on the flood State's matching share of funds so that the man who dedicated his life to the principles sites. These volunteers showed real leader- cleanup of their communities could go forward. that make this Nation great. I am referring to ship in stressful and often dangerous situa- Honorable mention must go also to Post- Mr. Robert Leo, a veteran, rancher, and edu- tions, including heroic rescues, and who master John ``Bill'' Dillion, of the Talcott Post cator, who for many decades was a great and helped keep the local victims of the floodÐ Office, and his assistant Lorene Cales, and respected leader in south Texas. Mr. Leo their neighborsÐcalm, sale, warm, and fed. carriers Ronnie Quick and Patsy Mills for passed away on Saturday, January 27, and I In that context, I wish to convey special keeping the post office open for mail services respectfully request that this House of Rep- thanks and gratitude to the following individ- as well as a community center, so that not resentatives take a moment to honor his many uals who are members of the Talcott Volun- only could people get their mailÐa very impor- accomplishments. South Texas will miss this strong leader, who fought so hard and so well teer Fire Department: tant daily ritual of normalcy for people every- Kenny Simmons, Pete Weikle and his sons, for the principles we all hold dear. whereÐas well as a place for people to gather David, James, and Darin; Matt Stalnaker, Eve- Robert Leo served this Nation in the United lyn and Robert Bailey, Wayne Martin, Bryan and assure one another that they were safe. States Army during World War II, defending Keatley, Wesley Ward and John Gold, Kellis I commend each of them for this public serv- this Nation in the battle of Attu in the Aleutian Miller, Tommy Ward, and Charles ``Chucky'' ice and for their humanitarian concern. Islands. He received the purple heart for his Gore, all of whom responded beyond the call My hat is off to Talcott Elementary School service. Mr. Leo sacrificed his future for this of duty as they reached out to neighbors and Principal Gaye Shaver, whose assistance in Nation, because his wound prevented him friends to provide food and shelter. turning the school's gymnasium and cafeteria from enjoying a career in baseball with the During my tour of Pocahontas County's over as a shelter to families seeking refuge New York Yankees, who had selected him in Marlinton flood area, I received able assist- from the storms and the rising waters is and the baseball draft. ance and support from Dana Moyers, presi- was invaluable. Praise goes also to Rev. Dana After serving this Nation in war and sacrific- dent of the Pocahontas County Commission, Stalnaker, pastor of the local Baptist Church ing himself to protect our freedoms, Mr. Leo never forgot the foundations of the republic he and Commissioner Joel Collison, as well as for helping with the shelter and getting the fought to preserve. He knew that a healthy de- county superintendent of schools, Thomas Red Cross involved in Summers County, and Long. I have the highest praise for Marlinton's mocracy depends on the education of its citi- to Peggy Elkins who started within a few acting mayor, Jean Hite, who did an outstand- zens, so he went to work educating young hours of receding flood waters to obtain local ing job. For myself and all others engaged in south Texans, teaching in his native La Joya assessing how to best meet the short- and emergency relief for familiesÐwhile awaiting and later serving as principal and assistant su- long-term needs of the city's people, she went the often longer process of getting State and perintendent of Webb County school district in all out to make the city's emergency relief and Federal relief started. Thank you Peggy. Oilton. Even after his retirement, he served as other resources available. Her's was a job well During the early tour of the flood-torn area the president of the board of trustees of the done. in my district, I was accompanied by FEMA's Ramirez Common School District for many Last, but certainly not the least of fine-cali- regional director from Kansas City, John Mil- years. He enjoyed researching the rich history ber, able people who accompanied me on the ler, who was asked by the Philadelphia Re- of south Texas all the way back to the Span- Marlinton tour of damages, I am most deeply gional Director to help us out due to the inten- ish colonial and Mexican land records. appreciative of the work and support of Jane sity of the flooding. Robert Leo understood the importance of Price Sharp, of the Pocahontas Times, whose public service to American democracy. He job it was to observe and to write of the flood In the week after the floods, after the six was active with the Disabled American Veter- and its devastating effects on people and insti- counties were declared an emergency disaster ans and was a life member of the Boy Scouts tutions. Under the time-honored banner of the area by the President, I was joined by FEMA of America. He served on many boards, in- Fourth Estate's credo that ``people have the Director James Lee Witt on a tour of Poca- cluding an appointment to the State Commit- right to know,'' Jane did an outstanding job. hontas County and other areas, again to tee for the Control of Pesticides and the State The Salvation ArmyÐany organization on stress the need for Federal assistance and to Committee for Exports to Mexico. As a mem- which all of can and do rely during disasters assess the extent of the damages suffered in ber of the board of directors for Valley Tele- of all kindsÐwere outstanding in their offers of the six-county area. phone Cooperative, including 2 years as chair- assistance to individuals and families and fol- As we have seen happen in natural disas- man, he helped spearhead improvements in lowed through with clothing, blankets, and all ters throughout the country and the world, communications for south Texas. Whether it was helping veterans, or young people, or pro- other forms of human assistance possible to people do come together and help one an- the flood victims throughout the areas hardest moting the Texas economy, modernizing com- other in times of stress and even danger. Dis- hit. munications, or preserving our agricultural and I want to particularly thank Mayor Jim Leslie asters, call upon the best that is in usÐand ranchlands, Robert Leo, with his energy and of Hinton in Summers County for his assist- people seldom fail to meet their duties and re- dedication, left his unique stamp on these criti- ance in touring the Bluestone Dam. My deep sponsibilities to their neighbors both close and cal efforts. appreciation goes to Mayor Lindy Hodges of far. Above all, Robert Leo stood for the impor- Ronceverte in Greenbrier County, who met me This is what I have observed in West Vir- tance of the accountability of those in Govern- at the Ronceverte townhallÐthe old townhall ginia: A binding together of people from all ment and the free exchange of ideas. He because the new one was floodedÐas we dis- walks of life, helping each other in this most founded the Freedom Party in Duval County, cussed Greenbrier County to assess the dam- frightening of ordeals with floodwaters swirling and was appointed to chair the committee to age and determine what the immediate and about their homes, schools, churches, busi- investigate county corruption. Above all he long-term needs would be. nesses, and public buildings. It makes me cared deeply about our Democratic institutions Mayor Tom Housby of Alderson, between very proud to be a West Virginian and to be and he was outspoken in their defense, work- Monroe and Greenbrier Counties, met me at their Representative in Congress. ing for decades to make them serve the peo- the Alderson townhall and accompanied me to ple as they should. view the flood's toll taken on the people, their My hat is off to the people of West Vir- We in Congress should take a moment to homes and businesses in that area, and to do giniaÐall those whom I have named in these remember this outstanding man, who had a a quick assessment of damage and loss there.