[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 1999

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, as Women's History Month draws to a close 
today, I rise to salute a woman from my Congressional District in 
Minnesota who has dedicated most of her life to encouraging all 
citizens to exercise their right to vote and play an active role in 
government.
  Upon moving to Minneapolis from New York City, Florence Gray joined 
the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Minneapolis in 1948 to get more 
involved in her new community. The LWV of Minneapolis is a non-partisan 
organization which works to influence public policy through education 
and advocacy, providing election-related services, and sponsoring 
various educational forums and projects. In 1948, Gray helped create a 
new unit of the LWV along with a group of friends--many of them other 
young mothers like herself--and served as its chairperson. As the years 
passed, her leadership positions accumulated. During the 1960s, she was 
elected to the Minneapolis LWV Board as Treasurer, then became Vice 
President, then led the group as President from 1963 to 1965. She also 
served as the Minnesota vice president of the LWV.
  After years of public service in the League of Women Voters, Gray 
went back to college in 1968 to complete her bachelor's and master's 
degrees at the University of Minnesota. In 1974, she was appointed 
Associate Director of the Epilepsy Research Center of the University of 
Minnesota's Neurology Department. After 17 years with the Center, she 
``retired,'' though she continued to serve as a part-time consultant 
for the Epilepsy Program. During this time, she rededicated herself to 
the LWV, heading the LWV of Minneapolis' 75th Anniversary Planning 
Committee. In 1994, she was presented with the LWV's esteemed Bess 
Mlnarik Award for her years of tireless efforts serving on the LWV.
  One of Florence Gray's fellow LWV members once described her as 
``hard working, dedicated, tenacious, resilient, witty, wise, and 
wonderful. She has long since earned whatever honors we can give her.'' 
It is indeed fitting to salute Florence Gray for her lifetime of 
community service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor Florence Gray in celebration of 
Women's History Month. I thank her for her contributions to both the 
state of Minnesota and to our country, and I wish her continued 
successes in the future.

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