[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             TRIBUTE TO MARY LYNN McKAY UPON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______


                          HON. WILLIAM D. FORD

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 1994

  Mr. FORD of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
hard-working Democrat from Taylor, MI--Mary Lynn McKay. She is a 
dedicated public servant who put her heart and soul into Taylor 
politics, referring to it at one time as her ``lifeblood.''
  In 1957, when I was justice of the peace, Mary Lynn began her service 
as a tax clerk for the city of Taylor. Today, she has worked through 
eight Taylor administrations witnessing the city's evolution from a 
township. During her tenure, she held positions issuing building 
permits and working in zoning and planning. In 1974, she received her 
residential building license and then, when a position in the building 
department became available in 1977, she was hired as a building 
inspector. Mary Lynn's next move came in 1985, when she was named as 
the city's director of building and safety and code enforcement. In 
1988, she was appointed tax increment finance director. During her 
years of service, she was very active in party politics--working on my 
annual birthday picnic committee and contributing her time to the 
local, county, and district Democratic party.
  During her 36 years of service to the city, Mary Lynn served 5 years 
on the Taylor board of education, from 1974 to 1978 and again from 1981 
to 1982. While serving on the House Committee on Education and Labor, I 
relied on Mary Lynn as an important resource for local education 
issues. Governor Blanchard appointed Mary Lynn to the Michigan barrier 
free design board on which she served for 3 years. She was also 
director of the Taylor Community Credit Union board for 14 years. Among 
the numerous boards and committees of which she is a member, Mary 
Lynn's longest affiliation has been with AFSCME's Local 1128.
  On a personal note, I observed that Mary Lynn has been directly 
involved in every one of my congressional races. Those who are close to 
her note her fierce personal loyalties. Once she is your friend, she is 
your friend for life. Mary Lynn has certainly been a loyal friend to 
me. Her loyalty and friendship are more a measure of her character than 
a reflection of my worthiness of this devotion. I am glad that Mary 
Lynn and I are retiring at the same time--I would not have wanted to 
run for office again without her.

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