[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KATIE BUFFHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I take this 
time to honor a woman who has given her time in order to make the 
community of Maybell, Colorado a better place. For 24 years, Katie 
Buffham has worked tirelessly as the librarian of the Maybell Public 
Library.
  Katie's story begins in Sterling, CO where she was born, in 1916. Not 
long after that her family loaded up their Model T, a wagon and saddle 
horse and headed off for Three Springs, CO. Several years later she and 
her husband decided to raise their family in Maybell, CO. It was there 
that this story of a woman's dedication to the community takes shape.
  In 1975, the Maybell Public Library was moved from the inside of a 
bank to a trailer where, shortly after, it was scheduled for closure. 
Katie Buffham, upon hearing this, took on the amazing responsibility of 
keeping the library up and running. She did exactly that and more. Just 
1 month after she took it over there were 72 people visits to the 
library. For nearly 22 years she worked tirelessly, all the while 
earning nothing. Her days were spent going from the farm to the library 
and back taking advantage of every hour.
  Today the library is a modular school house which was brought in from 
another city. It has modern conveniences and a few employees. They have 
become interactive with other cities and technologically efficient.
  For years Katie Buffham has had the dream of making her community a 
better place. Thankfully, she fulfilled this dream. The area would have 
suffered greatly without this institution. So, it is with this Mr. 
Speaker, that I say thank you to Katie Buffham for her dedication and 
hard work. She is a great American and I wish her all the best in her 
well deserved retirement.

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