[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E671-E672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DR. ROBERT ``BOB'' BUCHANAN: AN EDUCATOR'S EDUCATOR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 16, 1997

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and say thanks 
to a 31-year veteran educator in our public school system. The 
superintendent of Sikeston schools, Dr. Robert ``Bob'' Buchanan, has 
decided to move on to life's next challenge.
  Bob's retirement closes a remarkable chapter in Sikeston, Missouri's 
Public R-VI School

[[Page E672]]

District. As a teacher, coach, principal, and ultimately 
superintendent, Bob Buchanan has done it all in his 25 years in 
Sikeston. Moreover, he's been a positive influence on so many kids and 
touched many of their families over the past 31 years of dedication to 
education.
  Bob's long and winding road in education started in January 1966 when 
he first was hired as a social studies instructor in Harrisburg, AR. He 
then moved across the border to his home State to teach social studies 
in Bernie, MO--his original hometown--and just down the road in 
Charleston, MO, before planting new and, as we know today, deep roots 
in Sikeston in 1972.
  Bob Buchanan is a leader by example. His community service record is 
exemplary. For instance, Bob is a member of Sikeston's chamber of 
commerce quality of life committee. He's also on the physicians medical 
organization board, Missouri Delta medical center board, Sikeston area 
development council board, and in the mid-eighties, he served as 
chairman of the board of adjustment.
  Bob also knows that you must keep learning in life so that you're 
prepared for the next challenge or hurdle. His personal achievements in 
his academic pursuits are impressive. After graduating from Bernie High 
School in 1961, Bob graduated from Arkansas State University with a 
bachelor of science in education. He earned his master in education 
administration from Southeast Missouri State University in my hometown 
of Cape Girardeau in 1971. He graduated with honors 10 years later in 
1981 with a specialist in education administration from Southeast 
Missouri State. Then, in 1987, he earned his doctor of philosophy from 
the Department of Educational Leadership at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale. Remember, most of these scholastic 
achievements came about in his spare time because Bob's full-time job 
was educating our children and helping to provide them a better, 
brighter future.
  Although this will be the last school year for Bob as superintendent 
of Sikeston schools, I'm sure folks will still find him going to every 
Bulldog game he and his wife Glenda can attend. Most importantly, I 
hope that the enthusiastic spirit and drive for excellence that Dr. 
Buchanan brings to the classrooms under his charge lives on for future 
generations. Bob Buchanan will be missed, but I truly believe his 
legacy will live on.

                          ____________________