[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING ANDREW BLACKBURN

                                 ______


                             HON. TOBY ROTH

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 1995
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a soldier, patriot, 
philanthropist, and loving family man.
  Andrew Blackburn was a good friend of mine, and a good friend to many 
in the community of Appleton, WI. His courageous spirit and generosity 
was known throughout the Fox Valley where he had a reputation as 
someone who could be counted on to get things done, whether it was as a 
designer at a paper company or as a volunteer for the Salvation Army.
  With his passing, we mourn the loss of a man who made a difference 
wherever he went. He dedicated so much time and energy to his fellow 
man and was fully committed as a husband and father to his wonderful 
family.
  Accomplishment came easy to Andrew Blackburn. He was blessed with 
boundless energy and possessed a limitless ability for helping others. 
Andy was known for his singular wit and his capacity for joy and 
laughter, which stemmed from a satisfying life of hard work and 
fulfilling activities.
  Andy was born in 1913, far from the northwoods of Wisconsin, in 
Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Polytech High School and received a 
degree from Brooklyn and Pratt Institute where he majored in chemistry.
  While Andy will always be remembered as an active volunteer in his 
community, he also built an impressive career. Upon graduation, he 
worked for Nyanza Color and Chemical Co. as a colorist and managed the 
dye house for the Allen A. Co. in Bennington, VT. He worked for Western 
Felt Works in Chicago before moving to Appleton in 1955. In Appleton, 
Andy set up the quality control lab at Appleton Mills where he received 
a patent before his retirement as chief designer of papermaker felts.
  Andy understood the value of sacrifice and commitment to others long 
before moving to Appleton. During World War II, Andy was in the 
Chemical Warfare Service stationed in England. He also served during 
the Battle of the Bulge and was commander of a prisoner of war camp in 
Liege, Belgium. After 24 years of service, Andy retired as a lieutenant 
colonel.
  Some of Andy's greatest contributions, however, occurred during 
peacetime. He served as head usher at the First United Methodist Church 
for 17 years and was a member of the men's bowling league and Methodist 
Men. His Masonic affiliations also included 50 years as a member of 
Mount Anthony Lodge in Bennington, VT. Andy's Wisconsin affiliations 
included membership in Lodge 349 of Appleton; the Tripoli Shrine of 
Milwaukee and the Scottish Rite as a 32d degree Mason in Green Bay.
  Andy's service to his community was as varied as it was enthusiastic. 
Among his civic duties were service on the youth board of the YMCA and 
as an executive for the United Way. He was also president of the Morgan 
School PTA and served on the citywide PTA council. The Kiwanis Club of 
Appleton also claimed his service for 35 years. He was lieutenant 
governor of his Kiwanis division from which he earned a Meritorious 
Service award in February 1995. Andy's service to the Salvation Army 
included 11 years on the board of directors. After bypass surgery in 
1983, he became an ardent supporter of the Appleton Heart Club. He was 
also a member of the Bell Friends of Wisconsin and the American Bell 
Association. Andy's work in the Republican Party earned him the 1994 
Outagamie County Republican of the Year Award, an honor shared with his 
wife, Lois.
  Our prayers today are with Lois; his son and daughter-in-law Richard 
and Jill Blackburn; granddaughter Jennifer and daughter Christine 
Blackburn.
  We will remember Andrew Blackburn for his generous and industrious 
spirit. America needs more people like Andy, who found it so easy to 
put the needs of others before his own.
  In his passing, Andrew Blackburn leaves a legacy of accomplishment 
through giving, working and striving to help other people.
  I would ask the members of this body and the American people to look 
at the life of Andrew Blackburn and realize the extent to which one 
person can make a difference in their surroundings. If we can work 
today with the same energy and commitment that Andrew Blackburn did, we 
can truly build a brighter future for our communities, the American 
people and those who will come after us.


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