[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF ROSELLA COLLAMER BAUMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2000

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Rosella 
Collamer Bauman on her retirement from the Michigan Women's Studies 
Association. Rose has truly led a unique and inspiring life, and one 
which will leave an indelible mark on her community, and the entire 
state of Michigan.
  Born in 1920 to Edna and Ward Smith, Rose's family moved around quite 
a bit during her childhood, sometimes more than once in the same year. 
Determined to graduate high school, she left home at 15 and worked for 
room and board. When she was 18, the met Max Collamer and the two were 
married when Rose was 18. The couple would have three children, Larry, 
Jerry, and Mary, in the next 10 years.
  After raising their three children, which is no small feat in its own 
right, and at a time when ``nontraditional'' students were uncommon, 
Rose went back to school to further her education. She earned an 
associate degree from Delta College, a bachelor of arts degree at my 
alma mater, then called Saginaw Valley State College, and a master 
degree in English at Central Michigan University. Rose appreciated the 
value of her education and the hard work it took to achieve it, so she 
founded the Chrysalis Center at Saginaw Valley to help women like 
herself have access to higher education. The center is thriving today, 
as Saginaw Valley State University awarded its first Chrysalis 
Scholarship to a student for this coming fall.
  Rose continued to be a pioneer in the field of Women's Studies by 
being a founding member of the Michigan Women's Studies Association in 
1973, and, in 1979, the association began the development of the 
Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame to honor the 
achievement of Michigan women. And today, on the occasion of her 
retirement, I am proud to honor her years of service on the center's 
board and as editor of the newsletter.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on about Rose's service to the community, her 
impressive leadership in advancing women's studies, her career as an 
educator (with which I have had the honor of having firsthand 
experience), or her unparalleled commitment and dedication to her 
family. But I wanted to wish her well and hope that the days ahead are 
filled with all the good fruits of a well deserved retirement. I know 
that she will spend even more time with her second husband, William 
Bauman, and her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Rose 
Collamer Bauman has lived a truly incredible life, and serves as a role 
model and an inspiration to everyone who has ever met her.

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