[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              EARL VARNEY

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a most wonderful 
man and a dear friend of mine, Earl Varney. Earl Varney, a World War I 
Army veteran, will be honored by the community of Worland, WY, on 
Military Day, June 29, 1996. Earl will have celebrated his 100th 
birthday by that day! He is the oldest living veteran of that conflict 
now residing in Washakie County and quite possibly in the State of 
Wyoming.
  Earl is absolutely an extraordinarily dazzling man. He is Wyoming's 
answer to George burns! He has all of the energy, graciousness, wit and 
good humor and civility of George Burns himself--and especially the 
wit! His good humor reminds me of the old adage that my Mother, who 
Earl knew well, used to share with me--``Humor is the universal solvent 
against the abrasive elements of life.''
  My dear father, Milward Simpson, also loved Earl Varney. They used to 
have a helluva lot of fun together. They were contemporaries in every 
sense. They were veterans of World War I, great friends and business 
associates. They also worked together in the American Legion. They had 
a shared and splendid lifetime of friendship and memories and love and 
affection. When my Dad died at the age of 95, Earl was one of the first 
to respond to offer his condolences.
  In addition to personally knowing my parents and grandparents, Earl 
knew the parents and grandparents of my dear wife, Ann. He was at her 
parents' wedding. He is such a thoughtful and kind man, too, as he 
always remembers others and the memorable dates and times in their 
lives.
  Earl served this Nation proudly in the final months of World War I 
before the Armistice. His dates of service were September 18, 1918 to 
November 26, 1918. He achieved the rank of Corporal. Not only did Earl 
give to the Nation in uniform, he has also been a great contributor to 
the good of the entire State of Wyoming. He was born in Ansley, 
Nebraska on June 14, 1896 but he went on to become a true Wyomingite. 
After release from the Army in 1918, Earl moved to Thermopolis, WY, and 
worked as a pharmacist in the local drug store where he first met my 
wife's father, Ivan Schroll. His other professions over the years 
included managing a finance and insurance office in Greybull, Wyoming, 
owning the Varney Motors Ford dealership in Worland, WY, and operating 
the Worland Oil Corporations-Mobil Bulkplant and Service Stations. He 
also worked in real estate. Earl didn't really embark on any kind of a 
retirement program until he reached his mid 80's!!
  We are so very fortunate to have Earl living among us in Wyoming. 
Earl is one of those special people that make up the core and fiber of 
the State--one of nature's nobleman. I cherish the years I have been 
the beneficiary of his counsel and friendship. My life is richer 
because of him. Those of us who know him so well think of him always as 
a rock solid citizen and a man who is authentic, honest and sincere--a 
man whose word is his bond. I know the proud community of Worland, WY, 
will be making June 29 a very special day for this good and dear man--
Earl Varney. He so richly deserves it. God bless him.

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