[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2279-E2280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THANK YOU MR. BRENT AYER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay tribute to the career of 
Mr. Brent Ayer. Brent has served my office in the capacity of Chief of 
Staff for two years; however, he has served the United States House of 
Representatives loyally for twenty-one.
  As Chief of Staff, Brent has performed his duties with meticulous 
skill and care. His ability to organize and prioritize keeps the office 
running like clockwork. Brent is a true asset to my staff, providing a 
level of leadership and wisdom that could only be gained through 
twenty-one years of service.
  How best to describe twenty-one years on Capitol Hill other that 
stating the obvious point that Brent is the kind of employee rarely 
seen this day-and-age in the workforce. He is the consummate Capitol 
Hill staffer and a model for anyone wishing to answer the call of 
service to his country and Congress.
  Brent's tenure in the House of Representatives began in the office of 
Rep. Goodloe Byron, where he was hired as a staff assistant in 1977. He 
stayed on with Rep. Beverly Byron after Goodloe's death and advanced to 
Chief of Staff.
  Brent's career path moved from Rep. Byron's office to Rep. Ron Klink 
in 1994 and, finally to work for me.
  Brent has a well-earned reputation for untangling really tangled 
messes. No task is too large or too small for him to handle. Whether 
Brent is attending a White House signing ceremony for legislation he 
helped his boss push through or defending a two-year-old child with 
Leukemia against a large health insurance company, he handles his 
duties with ease.

[[Page E2280]]

  Brent's ability to get into the trenches has been a true motivating 
factor toward emphasizing a team atmosphere in our office.
  Speaking of team efforts, included in the long list of Brent's 
accomplishments one of his greatest assets is his running ability and 
knowledge of the sport, which has helped Team Gordon successfully win 
the Capital Challenge six consecutive years.
  He has been a staffer's advocate, too, and the House is a better 
place to work because of his tenure.
  Brent was instrumental in establishing a fitness program for 
staffers. He helped begin a program of assisting new offices in setting 
up--thereby easing the transition to Congressional life for new staff. 
Every staffer and former staffer who worked with or under him praised 
his leadership, his calmness, and his ability.
  I have heard Brent explain his long tenure in this way, ``I came in, 
I put my head down, I did my work; when I looked up twenty-one years 
had passed.'' With well earned accolades and a long list of good 
memories in hand Brent will end his era of congressional service on 
November 15, 1998.
  On that day the House of Representatives will lose a strong and 
capable resource and veteran, his colleagues, both past and present, 
will lose a friend and mentor and I will lost a Chief of Staff, the 
likes of which come along once in a lifetime--if one is as lucky as I.
  It is with sincere thanks and gratitude that I say good bye and good 
luck to Brent Ayer.

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