[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 83 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1030-E1031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LEAH McCANDLESS MEMORIAL

                                 ______


                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 1996

  Mr. RICHARDSON, Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I share 
with my colleagues the news of the recent passing of a highly respected 
and admired woman in the Southwest. Mrs. Leah McCandless of Hobart, OK, 
died on May 22, 1996, less than 1 month shy of her 96th birthday.
  For a better part of this century, political candidates who wanted to 
represent Hobart, OK, in the Federal, State, and local legislative 
bodies stopped by the McCandless home in hopes of seeking her blessing. 
Over pie and coffee, candidate after candidate would give their best 
arguments as to why they would be best for Hobart and Oklahoma.
  Mrs. McCandless won may battles in her long life. She was probably 
most proud of the five sons she raised who all became successful in 
their chosen careers. She was married for more than 60 years to Cecil 
McCandless who operated a successful clothing store in Hobart. In 
addition to her political activity, she was a member of her 
Presbyterian Church for 70 years and became the first woman elder of 
her church.
  At a memorial service for her at her church, Mrs. McCandless left the 
following words for those in attendance--words that are worth repeating 
here:

     I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one,
     I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done,
     I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
     Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
     I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun 
           of
     Happy memories that I leave When my life is done.

  The local newspaper in Mrs. McCandless' hometown said it best when 
the Hobart Democrat-Chief's Joe Hancock editorialized, ``Leah 
McCandless Was A Legend in Our Time!'' I want to share Mr. Hancock's 
comments as well as an obituary printed in the local paper. After 
reflecting on Mrs. McCandless wonderful life which spanned nearly the 
entire 20th century, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special 
tribute to this woman and join me as we express our condolences to her 
caring family and many friends.

             [From the Hobart Democrat-Chief, May 30, 1996]

               Leah McCandless Was a Legend in Our Time!

       Leah McCandless was a true lady. She was an inspiration and 
     she was an institution. She left memories with those of us 
     who knew her we'll not forget.
       She was an amazing person. She studied events and was 
     prepared to discuss them. Among her friends were many of our 
     state's and nation's leaders. Many of them anxiously awaited 
     her advice and opinions.
       She loved the OU Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys. She was a 
     rabid fan!
       But none of that approached what I consider her greatest 
     accomplishment. She melded a great family of five sons and a 
     husband during rough depression times.
       All five boys received higher educations after graduating 
     from Hobart High School. All of them stayed close to their 
     mother.
       Her family was supported by a small family clothing 
     business. As far as I know she never actually worked in the 
     store but did make lunch to bring to town to her husband, 
     Cecil. He ran the Man's Store alone during the early years.
       The Presbyterian church was an integral part of the 
     McCandless family life.
       The great lady died last week but she lives on in the lives 
     of her surviving family members and those of us who knew her.
                                                                    ____


                            Leah McCandless

       Mrs. Leah McCandless, 95, a resident of Hobart for 70 
     years, died on Wednesday, May 22, 1996 in Elkview General 
     Hospital after a serious illness for several months. She was 
     born in Wichita, Kansas, at the turn of the century, June 17, 
     1900. She witnessed the many technological and scientific 
     inventions (the automobile, airplane, television, radio, 
     etc.) that we take for granted today.
       Her father, W.S. Yeager, organized several banks in 
     Oklahoma, including Verden and Cement where she lived as a 
     child. The family settled in Mangum in 1910 where she met and 
     married her husband, Cecil R. McCandless, in 1918.

[[Page E1031]]

       They moved to Hobart in 1925 where Mr. McCandless opened 
     the Army store which later became the Man's Shop. He was very 
     active in the Hobart business and civic community until his 
     death in 1982.
       The McCandlesses had five sons, the oldest of whom, Bill, 
     died in 1982. His widow, Betty of Oklahoma City, is a 
     frequent Hobart visitor. The other four are Jack, a retired 
     Gates Corporation executive, Denver, Colorado, and wife, Kay; 
     Earl, musician and retired Army officer, Solana Beach, 
     California; John, attorney, Oklahoma City, and wife, Anne; 
     Bob, Lawyer-lobbyist, Washington, D.C.
       Each of the sons was educated in the Hobart public school 
     system and each graduated from Hobart High School.
       In addition Mrs. McCandless had nine grandchildren, eight 
     great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
       Mrs. McCandless had always been very active in the civic, 
     social and spiritual life of the Hobart community. She was a 
     founding member of the Mothers' Club, a long time member of 
     the Yamparika Club and the McDowell Club of Allied Arts.
       She was member of the Presbyterian Church for 70 years, 
     active in Circle #3, the Wednesday morning prayer group and 
     was the first woman Elder of that church.
       She supported and received much pleasure from the 
     Shortgrass Playhouse and the Kiowa County Museum. Mrs. 
     McCandless maintained an avid interest in political affairs 
     (national, state and local) all her life and thoroughly 
     enjoyed reading and discussing public policy issues.
       Leah McCandless leaves a host of friends in Kiowa county, 
     throughout the state of Oklahoma and the United States. On 
     her 80th birthday, Governor George Nigh, proclaimed that day 
     ``Leah McCandless Day'' in Oklahoma. On her 95th birthday 
     this past June, she received congratulatory letters from 
     President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, O.U. 
     President David Boren, former Speaker of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives Jim Wright, presidential candidate U.S. 
     Senator Bob Dole, former U.S. Senator Fred Harris and 
     nationally syndicated columnist Robert Novak, among many 
     others. A tribute was read to her on the floor of the U.S. 
     House of Representatives and entered into the United States 
     Congressional Record.
       In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made 
     to the Leah McCandless Memorial Fund at the Hobart 
     Presbyterian Church.
       Services were at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, 1996 at the 
     First Presbyterian Church, Hobart, Oklahoma. Officiating were 
     Rev. Jerry Hilton, pastor First Presbyterian Church, Midland, 
     Texas and Rev. Ginger Allen, pastor First Presbyterian 
     Church, Hobart, Oklahoma.
       Burial was in Hobart Rose Cemetery under direction of 
     Hackney Funeral Home, Hoabart.
       Active casketbearers were Delmar Richard, Jack Calmes, 
     Milton Krieger, Bruce Myers, Paul Hindes, John Montgomery, 
     Marshall Harris and Dr. Ralph Phelan.
       Honorary casketbearers were Norris Dame, James Brown, 
     Everett Brazil, Walter Pfenning, Joe Hancock, Dr. Michael 
     Krieger and Ralph Patchin.

                          ____________________