[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 69 (Tuesday, June 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARY MOONEY- KEITH

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
very special South Dakotan--Mary Mooney-Keith.
  On July 1, 1998, Mary Mooney-Keith, of Rapid City, South Dakota will 
retire after many years of diligent service for the school children of 
South Dakota. Mary is retiring to a lifestyle where hopefully someone 
can serve her just like all the years she served children through her 
wonderful food service career.
  Mary's outstanding food service career allowed her to demonstrate her 
knowledge, leadership, and passion for nutrition at all levels. From 
her work at the small school district of Faith, South Dakota to her 
service at Meade, South Dakota (one of the largest geographical 
districts in the nation), to her role at the South Dakota Child and 
Adult Nutrition Services, Mary always strived to make it her goal to 
make the school nutrition program the best possible.
  Mary's nutrition expertise did not stop in the classroom. She also 
was very active in the School Food Service Association at the local, 
state, and national levels. She held elected offices at all levels 
within the Association--including Midwest Regional Director.
  Mary's passion for child nutrition came through in her teaching 
style. She wasn't the teacher who went in and just talked to her 
students. Instead, she went to a clown school in Wisconsin during the 
summers and developed Mario the Clown'' to assist with her instruction.
  Mary is the type of person whose career may not have made her famous 
or wealthy. But, for 32 years, Mary Mooney-Keith taught our most 
precious citizens, our school children, one of the most important 
lessons in life--good nutrition. And, the greatest thing about it all, 
she lived her life with one basic principle that sometimes we all 
forget, to simply be yourself.''
  I am proud of Mary Mooney-Keith and offer her my best wishes in her 
upcoming retirement. 

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