[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 84 (Friday, May 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     IN RECOGNITION OF CARMEN TURNER

                                 ______


                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 1995
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise today to 
recognize an outstanding individual and public servant, the late Carmen 
Turner.
  Many of you may remember Carmen from her days as the general manager 
of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, more commonly 
know as Metro, and as Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 
However, you may not know how hard Carmen worked to turn her dream into 
reality. Born in New Jersey, Carmen and her family moved to Washington, 
DC, during her childhood. Carmen went on to graduate from Dunbar High 
School and then attended Howard University for 2 years before she left 
school to marry Frederick Turner.
  Those of use, though, who knew and loved Carmen know she never left 
any task unfinished. Carmen went back to Howard to complete her 
undergraduate degree. Even more impressive is that she did this while 
working full time at the Department of the Army and raising two 
children. Following a stint at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Carmen joined Metro in 1977 and was promoted to general manager in 
1983.
  As general manager, Carmen played a substantial role into making 
Metrorail into the state-of-the-art subway system it is today. Under 
her leadership, Metrorail opened new stations in suburban Virginia and 
Maryland, as well as finalized plan for the Green Line, which will run 
through the heart of the District of Columbia. Her hard work paid off 
in 1990, as Congress passed legislation authorizing $1.3 billion for 
the completion of the Metrorail system. Her service did not go 
unnoticed. In fact, in 1988 the American Public Transit Association 
[APTA] gave Carmen their Outstanding Achievement Award, and in 1989 
named Carmen the Transit Manager of the Year.
  Sadly, Carmen was taken from us far too soon, in 1992 at the age of 
61. She is sorely missed by so many of us. However, the legacy will 
live on, as it should. On May 12, Metro dedicated a memorial at the 
Smithsonian Metrorail Station in Carmen's memory. It is a fitting 
tribute that her memorial will be at a station where so many people 
enjoy the convenience of Metrorail. While here absence will always be 
felt, like many others I am proud that Carmen has been memorialized in 
this fashion. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join in celebrating Carmen 
Turner's life and career and recognizing her many accomplishments.


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