[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          TRIBUTE TO GEN DOAK

                                 ______


                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 1994

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, It is with great pride that I rise before 
you today to pay tribute to an outstanding Coloradan.
  For the past 24 years, Gen Doak of Glenwood Springs has dedicated 
herself to the Glenwood Springs Library. Now, after so many years of 
service, she has decided to retire.
  Gen and her husband, Ed Doak, will spend their golden years with 
their children and their grandchildren. They also plan to take 
advantage of the magnificent Colorado trails and mountains to pursue 
hiking, camping, and fishing. Ed retired after 44 years of selling 
lumber, and both of their retirements are richly deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to commend Gen and Ed Doak for their 
outstanding contributions to their community and to the people of 
Glenwood Springs.
  Both have earned reputations as trusted friends, and devoted parents. 
I ask my colleagues to join me in extending to them both our very best 
wishes for a wonderful and well-deserved retirement, full of prosperity 
and good health.

              Retiring Doak Like Rare Book: Irreplaceable

                            (By David Frey)

       Glenwood Springs--When the Glenwood Springs library moved 
     to its present location a decade ago, head librarian Gen Doak 
     thought she faced a daunting task. It would take days to move 
     shelf after shelf of books, she figured. But before the 
     morning was over, 150 volunteers showed up and wrapped the 
     project up in a matter of hours.
       That sort of community support is what Gen remembers most 
     fondly of her 24 years with the library. On Sunday, the 
     community returned its gratitude, joining together at the 
     Hotel Colorado to wish her a happy retirement.
       ``She's a symbol of the community,'' said Claudia Lange, 
     vice president of Glenwood's Friends of the Library. Gen's 
     warmth and wit transformed the institution, Lang said, ``It 
     makes the library something other than a place to pick up 
     books. It gives it the human element. Gen epitomizes the 
     humanity that we could all use.''
       Gen credits much of the library's success to the Glenwood 
     community that has supported it. That community spirit, she 
     said, is why she and her husband Ed have no intention of 
     leaving town.
       ``We want to live in a real community with real people,'' 
     she said. ``I can't think of any better place to live.''
       Gen's retirement follows shortly after Ed left Big John's 
     Building & Home Center, after 44 years of selling lumber. Ed 
     said that at his age of 72, and Gen's age of 68, the time to 
     retire had come for both of them.
       Besides, Gen said, retiring now gives them time to enjoy 
     active retirements together. ``I like to play,'' she said.
       Already, their plans for the summer are mounting. Both 
     enthusiasts of the outdoors, the Doaks have ambitious plans 
     for hiking, camping and fishing, interspersed with visits to 
     children and grandchildren.
       Ed, who lent a lot of maintenance work to the library over 
     the years, said he and Gen planned a clean break from the 
     library, giving the newcomers a chance to get settled in. 
     ``When we retire, it isn't fair to the person who's coming in 
     (for Gen and I) to be dabbling around'' he said.
       Gen said she had no plans of giving up the library 
     altogether, though, and still intends to be involved in the 
     citizens group, Friends of the Library.
       Meanwhile, the library must search for a new head 
     librarian. Debra Bosna, secretary and treasurer of the 
     Glenwood Friends of the Library, thinks Gen's shoes may be 
     too big to fill, though.
       The key to being a great librarian, Bosna said, is 
     experience. ``The wealth of experience that (Gen has) is not 
     easily replaced,'' she said. It would take the new librarian 
     at least another 24 years to match Gen's contribution, she 
     added.

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