[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        JESSIE WILLIAMS PRIDDLE

                                 ______


                           HON. BILL EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 1995

  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, there are so many who serve on Capitol Hill 
who contribute to the fabric of what this place is, but who never 
receive a great deal of public attention or acclaim.
  For 18 years Jessie Williams Priddle, remembered by most of us as 
``Miss Williams,'' taught English in the Page School at the Library of 
Congress. Several of us serving here now, who had the privilege of 
having been pages in the House in our youth, have fond memories of Miss 
Williams as one who left a positive, good, and enduring mark on our 
lives.
  She was a terrific teacher and had a sparkly personality, and was one 
of those teachers you never forget because she made it all so 
interesting.
  Miss Williams passed away several days ago. She had a long and 
fruitful life and touched so well and favorably so many people, 
especially her students.
  Her nephew, Paul Hays, the House Reading Clerk, has shared with me a 
brief biography of Miss Williams, which I in turn wish to share for the 
benefit of her former students and all who knew her.
                        Jessie Williams Priddle

       Jessie Lutetia Williams Priddle, 90, a former teacher at 
     the Capitol Page School, died February 4 of heart and lung 
     ailments at an Alexandria nursing home. Born in Hutchinson, 
     KS, she attended public schools there, graduated from 
     Southwestern College in Winfield, KS, and earned a masters 
     degree in education from Columbia University.
       She taught in elementary and secondary schools in Kansas 
     and New York, and worked for the United Nations Works and 
     Relief Agency [UNWRA] following the Second World War.
       She moved to Washington in 1948, and with the exception of 
     1 year, taught English at the Page School in the Library of 
     Congress until her retirement in 1967. Among her many 
     students over the years were Bill Emerson, Paul Kanjorski, 
     Jim Kolbe, and Tom Davis among sitting Members, as well as 
     former Members Bob Bauman and Doug Bosco, and the former 
     Clerk of the House, Donn Anderson. She was granted a 
     Fulbright fellowship for the 1955-56 school year to teach 
     English as a foreign language in the southern Netherlands 
     towns of Goes and Middelburg.
       During her teaching years in Washington she was an active 
     member of the National Presbyterian Church, singing regularly 
     in its choir, and played violin with the Washington Civic 
     Orchestra.
       After her retirement from the Page School, she donated one 
     semester of service as a visiting professor of English at her 
     alma mater, Southwestern College. At the end of the semester 
     the college hired her for the balance of the school year.
       Returning to Washington in 1968, she became active in the 
     D.C. League of Republican Woman. She recalled her election to 
     the league's board as having been the result of the 
     organization's desire for some ``younger'' officers. She also 
     volunteered in the local Daughters of the American Revolution 
     chapter's program of teaching English to the predominantly 
     Spanish-speaking foreign nurses in several local hospitals.
       In 1973, she married Horley Priddle, a high school 
     classmate with whom she had renewed her acquaintance at their 
     class 50th reunion the previous summer. It was her first 
     marriage. They traveled together widely, including an around-
     the-world tour shortly after their marriage.
       Mr. Priddle died last July. She is survived by several 
     nieces and nephews, including Paul Hays, the House Reading 
     Clerk. Private services were held on February 11 in 
     Clarksville, TN.
     

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