[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1615]]


            THANK YOU, BARBARA BOWES, FOR YOUR LOYAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 1996

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was with mixed emotions that I 
announced last December 11 my decision to retire from the House at the 
conclusion of my current term. As I explained at the time, the decision 
to retire was made more difficult because of the loyalty and dedication 
of my staff--and because of the genuine friendship I feel for them.
  Today, I want to thank one member of my staff--Barbara Bowes, my 
district coordinator--for everything she's done for me and my 
constituents in the 16 years that she has worked in my office.
  During the last 16 years, Barbara has handled difficult tasks with 
ease and efficiency--and handled impossible tasks with only slightly 
less ease and efficiency.
  When the Houston Ship Channel was in my congressional district, 
Federal maritime and environmental officials often came to Houston for 
inspection trips or to hold public hearings. Invariably, one or more 
helicopters would magically appear to take me and the visiting 
dignitaries on an inspection tour over the Channel, or above some 
Superfund site. Only later did I realize that it was Barbara, not God, 
that somehow or other--and I still haven't figured out how exactly she 
did it--made those helicopters appear.
  Barbara has worked closely with my Washington, DC, scheduler to 
arrange events in my district. She has scheduled all of my 569 town 
meetings, as well as several special seminars held over the years. And 
she has represented me at countless meetings that I was unable to 
attend. In short, Barbara's official job description is as dynamic and 
flexible as Barbara herself.
  It's impossible to explain what Barbara's exact responsibilities are 
only because I've never asked her to do the same thing two days in a 
row. But to borrow a phrase, when something absolutely, positively 
needs to get done, more often than not, it's to Barbara that I turn. I 
trust her judgement, her maturity and her loyalty--and I always will.
  In 1993, when I ran for the U.S. Senate in a special election, I 
asked Barbara to take a leave of absence from my official staff and 
join my campaign staff. As I told her at the time, her participation in 
my Senate campaign provided me with a comfort level that I would not 
have enjoyed had she not been with me. I lost that campaign, but 
Barbara's presence made the experience more enjoyable than it would 
have been without her.
  More than most people, Barbara has her priorities straight. While she 
loves her job, her real joy in life is her family.
  Her husband, Bill, deserves canonization for tolerating his wife's 
long hours and often erratic schedule. Despite that kind of schedule, 
Barbara's children and grandchildren always come first, and she is 
always there for them.
  When Bill or Deb Bowes need advice--or a good babysitter for Kelsey 
or William III--Barbara's there to help. When Susie or ``Bo'' Wilburn 
need advice--or a good babysitter for Haley Sue--Barbara's there to 
help. And when Tom Bowes needs some motherly advice--oftentimes on how 
to avoid getting into a situation that might, eventually, require a 
good babysitter--Barbara's there for him as well. And she has also 
always been there for her parents, C.T. and Harriett Williamsen of 
Houston.
  Barbara Bowes is one of those hardworking women who make all of us in 
this institution look better than we deserve. She has done that for me, 
and I appreciate this opportunity to publicly thank her for the 
dedication, loyalty and professionalism she has exhibited as a member 
of my staff.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you join with me in saying ``thank you'' to 
Barbara Bowes for her years of loyal service to me, to the men and 
women of Texas' Eighth Congressional District, and to this great 
institution. And I know you join with me in wishing Barbara, and her 
husband Bill, all the best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________