[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDATION OF MARGARET GONTZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 1999

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Ms. Margaret Gontz, 
who at the age of 72, gave up something that most people look forward 
to: her retirement. That was 10 years ago. Today, at 81, Ms. Gontz is 
one of the top employees in the Pennsylvania Higher Education 
Assistance Agency in Harrisburg. She came back for family: to help her 
grandson pay for college. And she came back for herself: she just 
wanted to be on the job. Ms. Gontz has been cited as an exemplary 
employee at PHEAA--where most of her co-workers are in their 20s and 
30s. Now she is being honored as ``Pennsylvania's Outstanding Older 
Worker,'' and is being recognized as part of Prime Time Awards, a 
national celebration of the contributions of older workers taking place 
this week in Washington. Ms. Gontz cites accuracy, timeliness and 
productivity as contributing to her success. ``I rate myself as a 
normal person doing my job like I should do,'' she says. Ms. Gontz, you 
are not a ``normal'' person. You are very rare indeed.

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