[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    SERVICE TO OTHERS KNOWS NO AGE LIMITS--SALUTE TO A CONTRIBUTING 
                              CENTENARIAN

                                 ______


                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 1994

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege of honoring a 
remarkable American from my district, California's 38th. Mrs. Leone 
Jackson not only has reached her centennial birthday, but has shown us 
all that age does not diminish a person's ability to serve others.
  Teaching has been the lifelong devotion of Mrs. Jackson of 
Bellflower, CA, who celebrated her 100th birthday in March. She began 
her career as an educator in a one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska almost 
80 years ago and, today, whe is still teaching groups of English-as-a-
second-language students who come to her home. In between, she left 
Nebraska in 1929, moving to California, where she earned her master's 
degree at the University of Southern California by working in a 
hardware store and selling toothbrushes door-to-door. In 1942, Mrs. 
Jackson took a teaching position in Paramount, CA. She retired from 
there in 1962 after serving as principal of Lincoln Elementary School.
  But even in retirement, teaching was still in her blood. At the age 
of 68, Mrs. Jackson joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Lima, Peru, 
where she taught English.
  When Mrs. Jackson returned to southern California after her Peace 
Corps service, she learned that the Paramount Unified School District 
was having problems with a growing number of new students who did not 
know English. Mrs. Jackson responded by starting what would become 
Paramount's first English-as-a-second-language [ESL] program.
  At first, Paramount's ESL program was run out of Mrs. Jackson's 
house. Later, it moved to the Paramount Adult School campus. And today, 
32 years after her official retirement from the classroom, Mrs. Jackson 
is still teaching a few ESL students at her home.
  In addition to her work with non-English-speaking students, this 
exceptional woman is writing two books about her family history. When 
published, these volumes will join Mrs. Jackson's other works, which 
are collections of letters and poetry.
  Leone Jackson is an inspiration for us all. Not only does she have 
extraordinary energy and longevity--which she attributes to never 
staying overnight in a hospital and to drinking gallons of milk--but 
she has maintained a century-spanning commitment to helping others.
  I join with Leone Jackson's family, friends, and students, both 
current and former, to wish her a happy 100th birthday and to praise 
her continuing dedication to serving her community.

                          ____________________