[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE HON. S. SUE SHEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Honorable S. Sue Shear, a Representative from the 83rd Legislative 
District. She is currently serving her 13th term in the Missouri House 
of Representatives. Her district takes in all or part of six 
communities: Clayton, Ladue, Olivette, Creve Coeur, Overland and 
University City.
  Representative Shear has spent the last 26 years fighting for the 
rights of women, bettering conditions for Missouri's children, older 
adults, the disabled, health care in general and working to improve the 
conditions in Missouri's prisons. She sponsored numerous measures 
reflecting her commitment to the environment, working people, and 
consumers. She was the original author of the award winning ``Parents 
as Teachers'' program, first established in Missouri and now a national 
model. One of the battles not won was for the Equal Rights Amendment of 
which she was the original sponsor and for which she became the symbol 
for women across the state. Susie has also become an icon; treated with 
respect and affection by fellow legislators, especially women 
colleagues who have dubbed her ``the mother of us all.'' The Missouri 
house honored her at the close of its current session with a renewed 
commitment to women's equality in her honor.
  Susie was born March 17, 1918. Now the senior woman in the House of 
Representatives, Susie recently celebrated her 80th birthday. She 
married the late Harry D. Shear and they had three children: M. 
Katherine, a psychiatrist; Kenneth R., a lawyer; and Kerry R., an art 
historian. Ken wrote a letter to her on her 75th birthday in which he 
said: ``Going to Jeff City with you last month brought home to me just 
what an accomplishment you have made, without a college degree, without 
a law degree, to have forged yourself a role as one of the leaders of 
state government. The way I see it, you created a situation in which 
you had the role of being a leading spokeswoman for feminist and 
liberal causes, before you quite knew how to fill the role. And then 
you grew into it. A neat trick.''
  Perhaps Susie's greatest legacy is her clear commitment to stand firm 
in her beliefs. For this and many of her attributes, Women in Public 
Life at the University of Missouri-St. Louis will aptly bear her name. 
She has inspired, nurtured, and taught many women the skills they need 
to make their way in the world.
  I am very fortunate to have served with her for 18 years in the 
Missouri General Assembly. I unabashedly called her ``Mom.'' She was 
the mother I needed as I made my way as a young woman through the 
trials and tribulations of public service. In her Darwinian function, 
she gave birth to me in the political arena, set standards she expected 
me to meet, and shoved me out of the nest to become a member of 
Congress.
  Susie is retiring this year after serving 26 years in the Missouri 
House. Her children and grandchildren are to be commended for their 
generosity in sharing he with the broader community, our state and 
nation. The world is a better place for her life of public service. 
Thank you, Mom, for teaching me the joy of giving back to society.

                          ____________________