[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO RICHLAND ``FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2000

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to Mary and Jearl 
Cobb and Maxine and Gordon Warren, of Richland, Missouri, for 
demonstrating extraordinary commitment to their community in the effort 
to obtain a public library.
  Mary and Jearl Cobb served successive terms as president of the 
``Friends of the Library''. During this time, they volunteered to 
become involved in the effort to maintain a public library service for 
Richland. Long-time Richland residents, Maxine and Gordon Warren, 
bought the run down Earl Morgan building to rehabilitate and offered it 
to the library for a minimal annual amount. They also donated $40,000 
to remodel the building and established a $50,000 annual trust for 
additional community projects. Once the building was identified, Mary 
and Jearl Cobb voluntarily dedicated numerous hours to the library 
project in order to make it a reality. Mary raised over $100,000 for 
mechanical equipment, lumber, paint, and other materials and also 
organized free lunches for the workers. Jearl recruited dozens of 
volunteers from all branches of the Armed Services stationed nearby and 
from the community to install air conditioning, siding and plumbing. He 
personally helped during every phase of the construction overhaul and 
even drove to St. Louis to pick up furniture donated to the library. 
The efforts of Mary and Jearl Cobb and Maxine and Gordon Warren have 
resulted in the new ``Maxine Warren Library Building'' which was 
dedicated on April 29, 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, these Missourians deserve special recognition for 
completing an extraordinary job. I know the Members of the House will 
join me in paying tribute to them for their exceptional efforts.

                          ____________________