[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 91 (Tuesday, June 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S7799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO SISTER RUTH GEHRES

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an 
outstanding Kentucky educator who has dedicated her life to serving the 
Catholic Church. Sister Ruth Gehres is retiring as president of Brescia 
College on September 15, 1995.
  Sister Gehres is in her 10th year as president of the 4-year Catholic 
liberal arts college. She first came to Brescia College in 1967 as a 
teacher, a job that kept her extremely busy. She taught English, 
journalism, literature, linguistics, and elementary German to the 
hundreds of students enrolled at the campus. In 1986, her hard work and 
dedication paid off, she was named president of Brescia College, the 
third in the school's history.
  Sister Gehres has seen many changes at Brescia College over the 
years. During her tenure, she was responsible for the new campus 
center, the acquisition of the former Western Kentucky Gas headquarters 
for the Lechner Graduate Center, the creation of a master's degree in 
management program, and a partnership with Mercy Hosptial to create a 
wellness center.
  The Evansville, IN, native is a graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy 
and Brescia College. She has a doctorate from St. Louis University. She 
also spent several years teaching elementary school in Nebraska and in 
Hodgenville and Owensboro, KY.
  While Brescia College will miss Sister Gehres after her departure, 
the Catholic Church will remain a big part of her life. She plans to 
take a sabbatical to prepare for a new ministry. While she is unsure 
what field she will pursue, Sister Gehres recently told Owensboro's 
Messenger Enquirer she plans to seek a field that ``engages my gifts 
and serves the church which also allows time for reflection and--I 
would hope--writing.''
  Mr. President, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to Sister Ruth Gehres. I commend her for her outstanding 
service to Brescia college. She has played a major role in making the 
Catholic college the quality institution that it is today. Her hard 
work, expertise, and kindness will certainly be missed by students, 
faculty, and fellow administrators.


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