[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 31, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       HONORING GORDON BOETTCHER

 Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, in Edina, MN, they called him 
the senior senior.
  Last fall, Gordon Boettcher graduated from high school at age 87. 
Today, Gordon turns 88, and I congratulate him for knowing that the 
value of learning is in discovering the unlimited capacity to 
experience life. This was an important lesson that I learned from one 
of the sisters at St. John's Academy, and Gordon demonstrates that this 
lesson is true at any age.
  Gordon attained his diploma through the South Hennepin Adult Programs 
in Education [SHAPE]. SHAPE provides adults a second chance to complete 
their high school education.
  Reporter Katy Koch of the Edna Sun-Current told Gordon's story:

       Usually a modest man of few words, he was a picture of 
     vitality on stage during the ceremony for 16 graduates. 
     Diploma from Edina High School in hand, he gave a big thumbs 
     up sign to the delight of the audience and his family 
     members.
       But that outward enthusiasm was a long time in coming. For 
     two years of twice-weekly general education class meetings, 
     Boettcher and his wife, Shirley, kept his coursework a secret 
     from their adult children and grandchildren.
       Apparently Boettcher had some misgivings. ``I've made a 
     fairly good success in life without doing this. I'd wonder, 
     why am I doing this now? But I kept on walking.''
       Gordon had a varied career. He worked for the United States 
     War Department in Panama and for Western Electric as an 
     electronics technician, has been manager of a self-service 
     car wash in Bloomington and was in the home repair business.
       ``My lack of a diploma kept me from gaining the title of 
     engineer,'' Boettcher said. ``The lack of schooling held me 
     back, but I received equal pay in a different 
     classification.''

  According to Virginia Borgeson, SHAPE's community liaison--

       One thing SHAPE granduates share is they've been through 
     some kind of crisis affecting their education. They've 
     already lost out on the regular system in a sense. In a 
     certain sense they are heroes because they go through with it 
     * * * going out and beating the odds.

  In Minnesota, we are proud of people like Gordon--and of programs 
like SHAPE that open doors for Minnesotans. In fact, now that Gordon 
has earned his diploma, I have been told that he is turning his sights 
toward accounting classes.
  Gordon proves that education can--and should--go on as long as life 
itself. He is an inspiration, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
wishing him a happy birthday.

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