[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                             BARNEY QUILTER

  Mr. METZENBAUM. Madam President, I rise today to honor a man that 
truly deserves recognition. He is the Speaker pro tempore of the Ohio 
House of Representatives, Barney Quilter.
  Barney Quilter is retiring at the end of this year after serving 28 
years in the Ohio House, 24 continuous years in legislative leadership 
positions. This is a historic record in Ohio that will probably never 
be broken. Also, remarkably, he has served the last 20 years as Speaker 
pro tempore.
  Barney Quilter is a long-time friend of mine. He is a gentleman in 
every sense of the word. He is courageous fighter for those issues in 
which he believes, and, if he does not believe, he fights equally as 
hard against them.
  The quality of his leadership in service has been equally impressive. 
Representative Quilter has been instrumental in much of the progress 
that has been achieved in Ohio during his legislative career; progress 
in senior citizen legislation, ongoing education funding, a civilian 
conservation corps, and Alzheimer's legislation.
  Barney has long been a courageous fighter in the ongoing battle 
against the ravages of Alzheimer's. An ongoing battle not only in the 
Ohio Legislature and here in the Halls of Congress, but also in his own 
home and at the Little Sisters of the Poor at the side of his wife, 
Mary. His devotion to Mary and his attention to her needs during this 
illness has been nothing short of heroic. Barney, I know, sees it 
differently. He views it as simply a husband's love for his life's 
partner. What a magnificent human being and what a magnificent husband 
Barney has been.
  That he could continue to effectively serve at his post is a measure 
of Barney's selflessness and dedication to the welfare of Ohio and the 
citizens of the Toledo area. Twenty years of that dedication resulted 
in the gems of the Ohio park system, Maumee Bay State Park, easily 
among one of the finest State parks in the Nation. The College of Law 
at the University of Toledo has a new addition and law library due to 
Representative Quilter's successful efforts to obtain State funding. 
Barney has been equally productive for his hometown in bringing about 
the Medical College of Ohio, the Center of Science and Industry on the 
Maumee River, the Seagate Convention Centre, and the restoration of the 
Valentine Theater. He obtained grants and loans for Toledo Jeep, 
Rossford Libbey-Owens-Ford, and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority 
among others.
  As momentous as those accomplishments are, they are not more so than 
Barney's consistent demonstration of exemplary character. There are few 
other government servants who have been more receptive to those who 
needed help. Barney always attempted to respond effectively and 
cheerfully to those in need. He is a source of ongoing inspiration to 
all who have had the honor of knowing him.
  For all his influence and effectiveness, Barney Quilter has remained 
an honorable and humble man. As the Toledo Blade recently said in an 
editorial, Barney ``is as universally admired and respected as it is 
possible for a partisan public servant to get.'' What a magnificent 
tribute to this wonderful human being.
  So admired that his community's leaders have established a 
scholarship fund in his name at the University of Toledo to encourage 
political science students to pursue public service careers and to 
inspire them to follow in his footsteps.
  Public servants such as Barney Quilter stand as beacons to all who 
would help their community, State, and country, showing the way to 
serve both effectively and ethically. Barney has done just that for 28 
years. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our admiration and 
appreciation, and in recognizing him, his wife, Mary, and their family 
as an example we should all strive to emulate.
  I am sorry that I cannot be there tonight with Barney Quilter and his 
many friends, but I know of no public servant that deserves the respect 
and honor that is accorded him this evening.
  I yield the floor.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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