[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 14, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 IN MEMORY OF RAYMOND LIONEL DEXTRADEUR

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, after a successful career in the U.S. Air 
Force, Raymond Lionel Dextradeur applied to the Capitol Police for the 
position of police officer. Mr. Dextradeur was accepted as an officer 
on the force by the Hon. Robert G. Dunphy, Sergeant-At-Arms of the 
Senate, on October 5, 1970. Officer Dextradeur's service to the U.S. 
Senate and the congressional community as a whole continued with 
distinction until his retirement on October 31, 1992.
  During his first 5 years on the force, officer Dextradeur, 
affectionately known as Dex, was assigned to the U.S. Senate Lobby 
where he quickly became known as a friend who could get things done, 
particularly when it came to the Senate pages. Dex was the officer who 
kept some of our budding future politicians in line when things went a 
little far afield in youthful anticipation of a pending Senatorial 
recess. His strong, gentle, and caring personality often subbed as a 
surrogate father for the youngest members of the Senate.
  After 5 years in the Senate Lobby, Dex requested and receive a 
transfer to the Capitol Senate Subway where he stayed for the remainder 
of his career. Officer Dextradeur quickly was befriended by Senators on 
their travels to and from the floor, always beaming a smile and dashing 
to hold a subway car to accommodate their passage. Dex was notorious 
for his inside knowledge of the Capitol and was sometimes called upon 
by new Senators to help them get through the maze of the Senate 
basement and corridors. Dex is referred to in Senator Cohen's book, 
``Murder in the Senate'' as a source and reviewer. Senators enroute to 
the floor could count on him to know the floor agenda and have that all 
important stash of breath mints or candy stored secretly away in his 
file cabinet. In recent years, the art work, plants, and lighting 
effects that decorate the Senate Capitol Subway are a direct result of 
Dex's persistence in requesting, and maybe nagging, both offices of the 
Architect and Senate Curator to improve his domain. Dex was the Senate 
Subway.
  Towards his latter years, Dex was called on several times to give 
tours to high profile visitors in French, a language he loved and spoke 
fluently. Besides being bilingual, Dex was our resident numismatist, 
trading coins with Senators and staff, and helping them complete their 
collections.
  Officer Raymond L. Dextradeur passed from this Earth on August 29, 
1994. However, he continues to serve the Senate and the Capitol Police 
force through his daughter, officer Diane M. Schmidt, and his son-in-
law, officer Michael A. Schmidt. Dex touched the lives of so many of us 
who passed hurriedly through his subway, making our moments there 
relaxed and enjoyable.

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