[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 155 (Saturday, December 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR SUSAN PFUEHLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 1998

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and congratulate 
Susan Pfuehler on a distinguished career as a Theatre Professor at 
Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. I have come to 
know Susan as the mother of one of my staff members, and have had the 
privilege to learn and hear about her from her son. I know that he is 
very proud of her.
  From Susan's days as a child, growing up on a small turkey farm in 
rural western Illinois, she displayed a flair for the dramatic. Her 
reading about a ``runty'' pig earned her local accolades and launched 
her career in theatre. Susan was one of those rare individuals who knew 
her calling at a young age and pursued it full tilt. Once she graduated 
from her local college in Monmouth, Illinois, she headed across the 
Mississippi River to the University of Iowa for her masters degree. 
Although she was there a few years before me, we are proud to count her 
among our alumni.
  After a short teaching stint at the University of Arizona, Susan and 
her husband found themselves in the small town of Cheney where she made 
her career as a professor and raised her family. Some might say Susan 
was among the original feminists--those strong and pioneering women who 
launched successful careers in the early 1950's. While Susan returned 
to the job a mere ten days after her son was born and her work often 
kept her in the theatre into the wee hours, she still possessed an 
amazing ability to find time for her family and include them in the 
activities at her workplace. As is, unfortunately, all too common 
today, it was not easy for women to succeed professionally. But Susan 
had deep resolve and drew strength from her family to have an 
outstanding career.
  From setting up the first ever costume production facility and 
academic program at, then, Eastern Washington State College, to 
creating a dynamic costume program at the Interlochen Center for the 
Arts, to being named among Who's Who in Entertainment for the past two 
years, Susan has forged ahead heartfelt passion and steadfast 
determination.
  I was once told that Susan's definition of successful teaching was to 
draw that one quiet kid in the classroom out and inspire them to do 
great things. I think it's safe to say that Susan has been successful 
time and time again. Teaching is a noble profession. But perhaps it is 
those teachers who are indeed humble in their contributions who are 
truly our national treasures. Susan certainly belongs in that category.
  Over nearly 50 years of service to the job she loved--teaching our 
young people--Susan has inspired thousands of students in thousands of 
ways. From the classroom podium, Susan found a comfortable forum from 
which both to teach and to learn. As she looks forward to her next 
stage, I know that she will dearly miss that platform from which to 
speak and to listen.
  Indeed the educational community has lost a great friend, but if I 
know Susan, she will be active in retirement and will, hopefully, have 
a little fun along the way. I wish all the best to you, Susan, on your 
well-deserved retirement.

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