[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1651-E1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO MISSOURI STATE REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA ``PAT'' SECREST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Missouri State 
Representative Patricia ``Pat'' Secrest. Representative Secrest has 
been named Legislator of the Year by the American Legislative Exchange 
Council [ALEC], the largest, bipartisan association of State 
legislators in the country.
  A distinguished public servant, Representative Secrest was chosen to 
receive this honor because of her outstanding work on ALEC's commerce 
and economic development task force. Under her leadership, the task 
force has doubled its effectiveness, growing the number of model bills 
drafted from 52 in 1996 to 110 in 1997.
  Her selection to receive this award is yet another milestone in an 
exceptional public service career. Her list of achievements is as 
diverse as it is extensive. Beginning in 1991 with the Outstanding 
Freshman Legislator for Small Business Leadership, to the 1992 Spirit 
of Enterprise Award from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce; to the 1993 
Missouri Guardian of Small Business, from the National Federation of 
Independent Businesses; to being named 1994 Legislator of the Year by 
the National Republican Legislator's Association; to her class of 1995 
Leadership Missouri Award; to the 1996 Legislative Award, from the 
Missouri Association of Insurance Agents; to her 1996 Voice of Missouri 
Business Award by the Associated Industries of Missouri; and to the 
Golden Sparkplug Award by the St. Louis Area Young Republicans, 
Representative Secrest has shown she is a dedicated leader.
  Her commitment to her community is exceptional. As cofounder of 
Secrest Engineered Products, Inc., she is a member of the National 
Association of Women Business Owners, and a former member of the St. 
Louis County Planning Commission, Leadership St. Louis, Greater 
Missouri Leadership, and a past president of Confluence St. Louis, the 
regional citizens' league. As an educational leader, she is past 
recipient of the Parkway School District's excellence in teaching 
award, a former member of the Parkway Citizens Advisory Council, and a 
former teacher in the Joplin, Columbia, and Parkway School Districts. 
As a public servant, she is serving her fourth term representing the 
citizens of District 93 in St. Louis County, and was named in 1997 to 
serve as the Chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, it my honor to know and represent such an outstanding 
public servant. I

[[Page E1652]]

ask you to join me in congratulating Representative Secrest on being 
named ALEC's Legislator of the Year.

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