[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 120 (Sunday, August 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
  JEAN BIXBY SMITH--A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE TO A LEADER IN COMMUNITY 
                              INVOLVEMENT

                                 ______


                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, August 21, 1994

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I was privileged to be 
present at a community tribute at the Long Beach Day Nursery to one of 
Long Beach, CA's most devoted volunteers--Jean Bixby Smith. She was 
being honored for 25 years of devoted service to the Day Nursery which 
had been founded by Florence Bixby in 1912.
  Jean Bixby Smith is a descendent of some of California's major 19th 
century pioneers. Originating in Maine, the Bixbys came West to become 
involved in the gold exploration of the 1840's and 1850's. They rapidly 
realized that supplying the miners provided a greater certainty of 
income than mining for gold. Some of the family began extensive 
ranching near San Juan Bautista and then moved south into what is now 
the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach, and Orange County.
  Wherever they moved, the Bixbys contributed to their community. When 
a need arose, they were the first to volunteer and the first to serve. 
And, they cared about their less fortunate fellow citizens. Jean's 
parents, Llewellyn and Betty, set the example for family service the 
20th century. Whether meeting the needs of children, assuring adequate 
health care, the development of the city, or the evolution of the Port 
of Long Beach, members of the Bixby family have been involved.
  Jean's devotion to her community matches that of her parents. She 
currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of the 
Bixby Land Company. In addition, she is deeply involved in many 
volunteer activities. I have had the pleasure of serving with Jean in 
the various efforts of the United Way Regional Board and Campaign for 
the 23 cities in southeastern Los Angeles County. To each activity, 
Jean has brought common sense, a gift for organization, and eloquence 
in explaining a needy, program to those in the community.
  At the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Long Beach Day 
Nursery, I was deeply moved by the special accolade authored and 
delivered by Jean's friend, Kathie Crawford, also of Long Beach. It 
closely captured what Jean's decades of unselfish devotion to her 
hometown has meant to all of us. It is titled, ``When I Think of Jean 
Bixby Smith, I Think of * * *,'' and I offer it for entry in the 
Record.

           When I Think of Jean Bixby Smith, I Think of * * *

       A 30 year friendship, community involvement based on 
     heritage, commitment, knowledge and love for Long Beach, 
     intelligence, a keen sense of humor, a capable, knowledgeable 
     lady, a rapport with and an interest in children, years of 
     teaching 3rd grade in Garden Grove, the great good fortune of 
     Megan and Scott Crawford and Malinda McCulloch in having had 
     Jean's influence and involvement in their lives, the many 
     children of Tichenor Clinic who learned to swim in her weekly 
     sessions, friends from childhood, from college, from 
     volunteer activities and business connections, from several 
     generations and many communities, a love for home and hearth, 
     garden and kitchen, a talent for sewing and needlework, six 
     generations of black and brown labradors with puppies and dog 
     shows and championships, garden and flowers and, paraphrasing 
     a pillow she did in needlepoint, she has bloomed where she 
     was planted, a sailor, tennis player and golfer, family: 
     Raymond, Betty and Bix, young Bix and Barbara, devoted aunt 
     to Mark, Brett, and Grant Bixby and Michael Blackwell, 
     connections to the peninsula and the beach, Alamitos Heights, 
     Rancho Los Cerritos, Scripps College and Claremont, service 
     to Red Cross and United Way, her Junior League presidency, 
     Rotary, Community Hospital, frequent member of citizen 
     panels, task groups and committees for the city of Long Beach 
     and the Long Beach Unified School District, my daughter says 
     the most impressive to her is Jean's energy and vitality, her 
     myriad of involvements, but a close second is her ability to 
     put her hair up without looking in a mirror, great companion 
     for visiting museums and art galleries, attending plays and 
     musicals, discussing a book, enjoying the Symphony or seeking 
     out the interesting and unique in Southern California and 
     beyond, 25 years of children attending the Long Beach Day 
     Nursery who have benefitted from her service to the Nursery, 
     a volunteer, contributor, leader, worker, and friend whose 
     efforts for the nursery include wallpapering the now-
     remodeled area that was once called the sick room, wall-
     papering with just barely enough paper (donated of course), 
     with skill learned in one free session at a wall-paper store, 
     on the hottest day of the century as shown by the thermometer 
     on the savings and loan on the corner each time we stepped 
     outside; I think of a remarkable friend, a doer and a giver 
     who has enriched her community and most especially, the Long 
     Beach Day Nursery, with her contributions of time, talent and 
     love.