[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN MEMORY OF MISSOURI NEWSMAN WILLIAM LESTER ``LES'' SIMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 1997

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 16, 1997, the State of 
Missouri lost a distinguished citizen. William Lester ``Les'' Simpson 
of Odessa, MO, passed away in Lexington, MO at the age of 88.
  In 1926, Mr. Simpson started a lifelong career in the news business 
at his father's Rolla (MO) Times. In 1944, he and his wife Madeline 
bought the Holden Progress, where he became publisher. In 1990, they 
moved to Odessa, where he resided until his death.
  Mr. Simpson was a member of the Missouri Press Association, serving 
as president in 1957, and the Central Missouri Press Association, of 
which he was president in 1950. He was inducted into the MPA Hall of 
Fame in 1992. He was also the recipient of distinguished service awards 
from Northeast, Northwest, and Central Missouri press associations and 
received the Merril Chilcote Award in 1995 from the Northwest Missouri 
Press Association. Mr. Simpson also served on the board of regents at 
Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO from 1959-77, 
serving as board vice president from 1961-65, and president from 1965-
71. He received the CMSU Distinguished Service Award in 1995.
  Mr. Simpson was a 50-year member of the Holden Masonic Lodge and 
Order of Eastern Star. He was past president and member of the Holden 
Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Ararat Shrine of Kansas City.
  He was preceded in death by his wife Madeline in 1992, as well as 
three brothers and one sister. He is survived by a daughter, Betty 
Spaar of Odessa, who continues in her father's footsteps as the 
publisher of the newspaper, The Odessan. Also surviving are three 
sisters, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson. I know that this 
body joins me in expressing sympathy to the family of this outstanding 
Missourian.

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