[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THREE REASONS TO BE PROUD OF THE 20TH DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be from Illinois and the 20th 
district. Today I want to mention three reasons why.
  The first integrated school in the Nation is about to be added to the 
National Register of Historic Places. The addition of Hamilton School 
in Otterville, Illinois, was recently announced by the Illinois 
Historic Preservation Agency. Behind the history of the school is a 
heartwarming story of unselfish brotherly love between a young black 
slave and his master.
  Silas Hamilton, a white doctor, founded the Hamilton School. Not 
having any children of his own, he freed a six-year-old black slave, 
George Washington, and raised him as his own child. Two years later, in 
1836, when he was old enough, Washington began attending classes at the 
formerly all-white school in Otterville and grew up to be a successful 
farmer in Jersey County. When Washington died, he left a fund to have a 
monument erected in Hamilton's memory on the lawn of the school.
  Today, Washington and Hamilton are buried together; not as master and 
slave, but as friend and friend. The large stone crypt is visible from 
the window of the Hamilton School, and serves as a symbol of the 
friendship between a white and a black man, and the beginnings of 
American racial harmony.
  Secondly, Mr. Speaker, while most rural post offices are seeing a 
decline in customers due to the resent technological advancements of e-
mail, Internet and fax machines, the Texico Post Office's business just 
seems to keep growing.
  The Texico Post Office will be celebrating its 100th year of service 
on Monday, the 5th of October. The celebration will include an open 
house, refreshments and a special commemorative postmark celebrating 
the 100th anniversary, which will be available for 30 days.
  Fred Young has been the postmaster of the office for over 30 years 
and has seen a lot of changes during his tenure. ``There is a lot more 
paperwork involved, and there have been several rate changes. Also 
since I've been here our rural route delivery has doubled,'' said Mr. 
Young.

  The Texico office is undoubtedly quieter than some of the bigger 
offices. The rural route only covers 75 miles. However, they are able 
to serve their patrons with just one rural carrier, Sondra Coldwell, 
her substitute, Marla Saupe, and the office's clerk, Terri Pemberton.
  Even though the office is a bit smaller and quieter, it not something 
that Postmaster Young minds. Maintaining the tradition of good quality 
service for the patrons is Young's priority.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to sharing with the Members the information 
about Otterville and Texico, I want to take this time to make special 
mention of a loss to central Illinois of a woman that the State 
Journal-Register called a ``trailblazer'' who opened the doors for 
women.
  Josephine Oblinger died last Sunday day at St. John's hospital in 
Springfield, Illinois. At 85, she left behind a legacy of good works 
that will likely never be duplicated. Her son Carl said, ``She just did 
the good things that needed to be done,'' and described her as his 
``confidant for life.''
  Josephine was a native of Chicago. She attended the University of 
Detroit Law School, graduating in 1943 Magna Cum Laude. The 
significance of that accomplishment is lost on many of us today, who 
forget that there was a time when women were neither expected or even 
allowed in some cases to pursue a career in the law. In fact, her son 
Carl remind us that even though she was the class valedictorian, she 
was not allowed to speak at the graduating ceremony solely because she 
was a woman.
  In addition to the law, she was a teacher. She also was elected as 
Sangamon County Clerk, as an outstanding state representative, and 
President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. In her later years, 
she never shied away from continuing to help those in need.
  Yet, despite all that she has accomplished and all that she did for 
so many of us in central Illinois, her proudest accomplishment was her 
beloved son Carl. Since it is true that our greatest legacy is our 
children and the kind of people they turn out to be, I can tell you 
that her son Carl has honored his mother and his father in immeasurable 
terms.
  My prayers go out to Carl and Marge along with thought, Josephine 
Oblinger made a difference in our lives, and so do the two of you.

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