[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1095-E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           BOB COOK TURNS 80

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
constituent who has rendered great service to his country and his 
community and who will turn 80 on June 19. His family and friends will 
honor him at a surprise fete on Saturday, May 29, in Duck, North 
Carolina.
  Robert (Bob) Cook worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 
26 years before he retired in 1980. While there, he managed Price 
Support programs in honey bees, potatoes, turkey, milk and wheat. What 
that really means is he ensured that farmers received government 
assistance when they were economically devastated by a disaster. For 
instance, in the 1960s, our Western states were hit by a pesticide 
disaster which affected milk. All milk had to be poured down the sewer. 
Bob wrote the program to assist the farmers whose livelihoods were 
threatened by the loss.
  Bob was born and grew up in Texas in a small farming community called 
Lampasas. He was the youngest of eight children, all of whom helped 
their parents who were ranchers raising sheep and cattle. After 
graduating from high school, Bob enrolled in Texas A&M but he felt his 
duty to serve his country before he could graduate. He left in his 
senior year to fulfill his duty to his country. He joined the Army 
where he served in Europe in World War II as a Quartermaster, supplying 
the front lines with food and other necessities. After the war, he 
returned to Texas A&M where he graduated. Bob then taught GIs returning 
from the war to become farmers and ranchers. He had an acute interest 
in raising sheep and

[[Page E1096]]

soon he received a Masters Degree from the University of Wyoming which 
had an outstanding program in this area. He began his tour with the 
Department of Agriculture in San Francisco but was soon transferred to 
Boston. There he met his lovely bride to be, Dorathy Holmes, and 
married her 45 years ago. They moved to Washington, DC in 1954, both 
working for the Department of Agriculture. They lived in Alexandria, 
Virginia where they were active in community life, most particularly in 
their Jewel Street neighborhood. The ``Mayor of Jewel Street and Aunt 
Doe'' helped raise and supervise neighborhood children, many of whom 
have adopted them as grandparents. Many of those parents and children 
will be present at the celebration honoring their beloved ``Uncle Bob'' 
Memorial Day weekend at the Duck home of Mary and David Gordon: the 
Gordons' son Scott, daughter Jenifer and her husband Dave Tran; Eleanor 
Scott; Jean and Dick Donnelly and their son Jamie; Rosemary and Johnny 
Perdue; Joy and Don Earner; Ray Bailey and Alice Rowan and their two 
sons William and John; and Francis Urban. In addition many of Bob's 
friends in Duck will be in attendance. For years Bob and Doe kept their 
house on Jewel Street and split their time between Alexandria and Duck. 
In 1993, they moved to Duck permanently.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have Bob and Dorathy as constituents and I 
ask that my colleagues in this chamber join me in thanking Bob for the 
many contributions he has made to his country and to his community and 
in wishing him a very happy birthday.

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