[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 159 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     OSEOLA McCARTY OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______


                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 13, 1995

  Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, recently I read story that ran in 
some of the New York papers about an 87-year-old woman from 
Hattiesburg, MS named Oseola McCarty. Ms. McCarty quit school in the 
sixth grade and went to work as a laundress. She never married, and she 
never had children. She merely worked hard, day in and day out, and 
lived a simple life.
  Over the years, she saved the money she made rather than spending it. 
She saved until the sum grew to an astounding $150,000. She claimed it 
was more money than she would ever need so she decided to donate the 
amount to the University of Southern Mississippi to finance 
scholarships for African-American students. In the words of John 
Melloncamp, ``Ain't that America?'' Stories like this inspire us and 
demonstrate that people like Oseola McCarty are what makes this Nation 
great. This gift has been matched by local business leaders.
  Some have criticized this voluntary gift by a private citizen because 
it is earmarked for African-American students only and will be used by 
a public university. Talk about not getting the point. This woman is a 
modern example of the biblical story about the poor widow putting her 
two copper coins in the temple treasury, an amount greater in meaning 
than all the gifts of the wealthy combined. This should be encouraged, 
not criticized. I refuse to believe that our culture has gotten to the 
point where an act of generosity such as this will be discouraged 
because it is not politically correct.
  I believe in America. And when I have my doubts, the story of Oseola 
McCarty, and the knowledge that there are others like her in 
communities throughout this Nation, make it a little easier to have 
faith.

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