[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1263-E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING EDWARD H. JENISON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS W. EWING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 1996

  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to take this opportunity to 
inform my colleagues that former member Edward H. Jenison, who 
represented part of my congressional district for three terms from 1946 
to 1954, passed away at 2 p.m. Monday, June 24, 1996 at Paris, IL. 
Community Hospital. He was 88 years old. I am proud to have represented 
Ed Jenison for the past 5 years and would like to offer my most sincere 
condolences to his family and friends.
  Mr. Jenison was editor and publisher of the Paris Bean-News for more 
than 65 years and a cornerstone of the Paris community. He will be 
missed tremendously. The following is a news article from the Beacon-
News concerning Mr. Jenison's life and his many accomplishments.

       Ed Jenison was a lifelong newspaperman. He started as 
     editor of his high school newspaper while growing up in Fond 
     du Lac, Wis., where his father was editor of the Fond du Lac 
     Commonwealth. His final days in the Beacon-News offices came 
     just a short week before his death.
       The newspaper was his primary focus but certainly not his 
     only interest--family, community service and public service 
     also shared his lifelong attention.
       Ed Jenison's public service career started with election to 
     three terms as Representative in the U.S. Congress, 
     representing a large district covering much of southeast 
     Illinois from 1946 and 1954. It was in this first term that 
     Ed Jenison met the late Richard M. Nixon, as the families 
     lived in the same apartment and they were first term 
     congressmen together. It was the beginning of a friendship 
     which continued over the years and when President Nixon died, 
     Ed Jenison was called upon by area media to recall his 
     friend. His service in the Congress followed his discharge 
     from the U.S. Navy service during World War II with the rank 
     of Lieutenant Commander, assigned to naval intelligence 
     duties both in Washington and aboard aircraft carriers in the 
     Pacific. He participated in several of the island campaigns 
     including the invasion of the Philippines.
       After his service in Congress, Ed Jenison served on the 
     Illinois State Board of Vocational Education from 1953 to 
     1960; was elected to the 74th Illinois General Assembly as a 
     state representative in 1964, appointed to complete a term in 
     the Legislature in 1973, and was elected a delegate to the 
     Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1970.
       He also completed a term as Director of the Illinois 
     Department of Finance by appointment from Gov. William 
     Stratton in 1960.
       Ed Jenison was equally involved in community service. He 
     actively supported formation of the Edgar County Mental 
     Health Association, now the Human Resources Center; the Paris 
     Community YMCA, and was one of the first members and officers 
     of the board of the Hospital and Medical Foundation of Paris, 
     Inc., which constructed the present hospital.
       He was a speaker at the dedication of the ``new'' hospital 
     in 1970, and participated in the dedication and ribbon-
     cutting for the new medical office building and hospital 
     addition earlier this month.
       He was a past president of the Paris Chamber of Commerce 
     and a director of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce.
       His community service was recognized as the Paris Rotary 
     Club presented him the Allen D. Albert ``Man of the Year'' 
     award. In 1993 the Paris Chamber of Commerce honored Ed and 
     his sister, Ernestine Jenison, with the annual Parisian 
     Award.
       In 1990, when Gov. Jim Thompson came to Paris to announce 
     the location of a new Department of Corrections Work Camp 
     here, fondly recalled it was on a trip downstate when he was 
     seeking his first term as governor that he met Ed Jenison. He 
     suggested the new work camp be named the Ed Jenison Work Camp 
     in recognition of Jenison's long public service to the area, 
     and Gov. Jim Edgar concurred at the Work Camp's dedication. 
     Although by nature preferring to remain out of the limelight 
     whenever possible, Ed Jenison graciously acknowledged the 
     compliment paid by Governors Thompson and Edgar, remarking 
     during the dedication ceremony ``I guess it's alright since 
     it has the word `work' in the name.''
       In his chosen profession he also was honored and recognized 
     by his peers.
       The United Press-International Illinois Editors Association 
     presented its 1982 Service Award to Ed Jenison, and the 
     Southern Illinois Editorial Association awarded him the title 
     of ``Master Editor'' in 1986. He also was an active member 
     and officer of the former Illinois Daily Newspaper Markets 
     Association, and member of the Inland Daily Press Association 
     and Illinois Press Association, as well as Sigma Delta Chi, 
     professional journalism society.
       His Paris newspaper career began in 1926 when his father, 
     E. M. Jenison, sold his interest in the Fond du Lac 
     Commonwealth and purchased the Paris Daily Beacon. Ed Jenison 
     left his college journalism studies to help staff and develop 
     the newspaper which became the Beacon-News in 1927 with the 
     acquisition of the Paris Daily News. He was a long-time 
     enthusiast of area high school sports, starting with his 
     duties as sports editor for the Beacon and then the Beacon-
     News.
       Through his efforts the Beacon-News voiced early and active 
     support for the construction of the ``new'' gymnasium at 
     Paris High School just ahead of World War II, now the 
     ``Eveland Gym.'' When in Paris, he rarely missed a varsity 
     basketball game including the girls' games in recent years, 
     and was a regular sidelines supporter at the football field. 
     He twice found himself in the midst of a sidelines play, 
     coming up none the worse. After the first tackle, while his 
     grandsons were members of the Tigers varsity, the team 
     presented him a football helmet with

[[Page E1264]]

     the words ``if you're going to play you had better be dressed 
     for it.''
       He was equally supportive of the interests of his wife, 
     Barbara, and son and grandchildren. While Ed Jenison was 
     serving on carriers in the Pacific, Barbara Jenison decided 
     she would explore the world of aviation, and obtained her 
     pilot's license. She continued her flying interests by 
     participating in a number of international and cross country 
     ``Powder Puff'' derby competitions, and served many years 
     with the Civil Air Patrol concluding with regional 
     responsibility for women cadets and the rank of lieutenant 
     colonel. She served on the Illinois Division of Aeronautics 
     Advisory Committee. As a pilot she also flew her husband on 
     many of his campaign tours throughout the extensive 
     congressional district.
       Edward Halsey Jenison was born July 27, 1907, in Fond du 
     Lac, Wis., the son of E. M. and Mary L. Jenison.
       Ed Jenison and Barbara Weinburgh met as students at the 
     University of Wisconsin, and were married Sept. 14, 1929, 
     making their home on Shaw Avenue from that time.
       He is survived by his wife, a son Edward H. ``Ned'' Jenison 
     of Paris, three grandsons including Edward Kevin Jenison of 
     Paris, also associated with the management and editorial 
     operations of the Beacon-News; Dr. Jim Jenison of Evansville, 
     Ind., and Stephen Jenison of Carmel, Ind.; and seven great-
     grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his 
     stepmother Mrs. Mary Jenison, who served as an officer of the 
     publishing company until her death at the age of 100; by two 
     sisters and a brother, and an infant daughter.
       He was a member of the Paris American Legion Post 211, the 
     Edgar County Shrine Club, Ansar Temple and Danville 
     Consistory, Paris Elks Lodge 812, and the Washington Press 
     Club.

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