[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8554-H8555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LARRY SMALL POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4315) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 3695 Green Road in Beachwood, Ohio, as the ``Larry 
Small Post Office Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4315

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. LARRY SMALL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3695 Green Road in Beachwood, Ohio, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Larry Small Post Office 
     Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Larry Small Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 4315.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. LaTOURETTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4315.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4315, which 
will designate the post office located at 3695 Green Road in Beachwood, 
Ohio, as the ``Larry Small Post Office Building.''
  I can really think of no person more deserving of this honor than 
Larry Small. My colleagues would be hard pressed, Mr. Speaker, to find 
a person who cares for, about, or has done more for the city of 
Beachwood, Ohio, a thriving Cleveland suburb. I am pleased that all 19 
members of the Ohio delegation are supporting this measure, as required 
by the rules of our subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, Larry Small, at the young age of 82, decided to retire 
last year after 32 years serving on the Beachwood City Council and 
numerous civic organizations. He prides himself on being a voice of the 
people and is just as accessible and helpful to the common man as those 
in loftier positions. He counts among his friends my good friend and 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  The gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) and I have the honor of 
splitting in this world of gerrymandering the city of Beachwood, Ohio; 
and she is a cosponsor of this legislation.
  I would note, for the Record, that travel difficulties make it 
impossible for her to be here at this hour; and even though I have 
asked for general leave, Mr. Speaker, I specifically ask unanimous 
consent that the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) have the 
opportunity to supplement the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Small also counts among his friends 
former Congressman Ed Feighan and also worked with George 
Stephanopolous when he was a staffer for Congressman Feighan.
  Larry Small has witnessed the tremendous transformation and growth of 
Beachwood over the last four decades.
  In 1960, when Beachwood first attained city status, it had a 
population of just over 6,000 residents. Today there are more than 
2,900 homes, more than 21 apartments and condominiums, and the 
population exceeds 12,000. The city covers just six square miles.
  When Larry Small was first elected to the Beachwood Council, the city 
has had a tax duplicate of less than $50 million. Today it is more than 
half a billion dollars.
  Larry is credited with developing a full-time fire department and 
bringing parademics to the city's safety forces. He has been a loyal 
friend to the police and fire departments over the years. He is also 
responsible for enacting a city ordinance making gun owners responsible 
for the safe and secure handling and storage of their firearms.
  Mr. Speaker, Larry Small was also behind the creation of the city's 
human services department. And let me tell my colleagues that that 
department is certainly responsive to the residents' needs, 
particularly those of the elderly.
  For example, the department has joined forces with Beachwood High 
School to offer free driveway apron and walkway snow shoveling to the 
residents in the city over the age of 60. And I want to tell my 
colleagues that this is no small undertaking, as the city of Beachwood 
lies within the snowbelt in Cleveland.
  In this unique program, members of the high school's freshman class 
have volunteered their time to shovel so the lives of the city's 
elderly population are made easier. All the older residents have to do 
is call up the high school, the human services department and the 
student will come to their home and shovel at their earliest 
convenience.
  Larry Small also deserves credit for overseeing the development of 
most of the great recreational facilities in Beachwood, including the 
Beachwood pool. As a matter of fact, rumor has it that Larry carried 
around the blueprints of the swimming pool in the trunk of his car for 
8 months after the pool was completed. He has been dubbed the ``Father 
of the Beachwood Pool'' by the local newspaper.
  Larry Small, Mr. Speaker, is not just a wonderful guardian of the 
city of Beachwood but also anyone in need. When he was on the council, 
he personally responded to about a thousand calls from residents each 
year.
  Now, though formally retired from the city council, Larry Small still 
gets up each day at 5:30 in the morning,

[[Page H8555]]

heads to his day job as a seniors affair specialist for the county. He 
is always there to help other seniors or point them in the right 
direction. He is a champion of senior rights.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of Beachwood, Ohio, honored Larry Small by 
designating December 20, 1999, as ``Larry Small Day.'' It is now time 
for the Congress to honor him as well and name the post office on Green 
Road in Beachwood the ``Larry Small Post Office Building.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Subcommittee on the Postal Service, I 
am pleased to join with my subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), in the consideration of H.R. 4315, a bill to 
designate a facility of the U.S. Postal Service after Larry Small.
  H.R. 4315 was introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) 
on April 13, 2000, and originally cosponsored by the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  I am pleased to note that H.R. 4315 enjoys the support and 
cosponsorship of the entire Ohio congressional delegation.
  Mr. Small, a young man of 82 years, has been recognized for his 
untiring efforts to serve his community of Beachwood, Ohio. He recently 
retired after serving 32 years as a member of the Beachwood City 
Council.
  Anybody who would serve 32 years on a city council deserves all of 
the recognition and honor that they can get any time no matter which 
city they are from but certainly, from Beachwood. He is indeed 
deserving of the honor. Currently he serves as a senior affairs 
specialist for the county.
  As an active member of the city council, Mr. Small was responsible 
for establishing a paramedic unit, creating a human resources 
department, and for ensuring the enactment of a city ordinance making 
gun owners responsible for the safe and secure handling of their 
firearms. And for that he should not just be honored, he should receive 
a badge of merit.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) are to be commended for seeking to 
honor such an individual, a man of wisdom whose commitment and vision 
are an inspiration to all of those who have known him. And so, 
accordingly, I would urge the swift consideration of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) on 
the selection of an outstanding individual to be honored.
  Mr. Speaker, seeing that I have no further requests for time, I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank my distinguished colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his comments.
  I urge our colleagues to support the bill.
  Ms. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak 
on support of this legislation. I can think of no one more deserving of 
this tribute.
  Larry Small served with distinction on the Beachwood City Council for 
32 years, retiring just recently at the age of 82. Mr. Small is so well 
thought of by his neighbors that they paid tribute to him by declaring 
December 20, 1999 ``Larry Small Day.''
  Larry Small is an exceedingly modest man never seeks to bring 
attention to his many accomplishments and contributions. So let me do 
it for him:
  Over the years, Mr. Small has done many things, great and small, to 
improve his community and to enhance the lives of his neighbors. For 
example, he brought paramedics to the city's safety forces and 
vigorously supported the police and fire departments. He is also 
responsible for enacting a city ordinance making gun owners responsible 
for the safe and secure handling and storage of their firearms. He also 
created Beachwood's Human Services Department, a department that 
responds to residents' needs, particularly the elderly.
  Retirement from City Council doesn't mean that Larry Small has 
retired from his commitment to his community. In fact, he continues at 
full pace to brighten the lives of others. Mr. Small still gets up at 
5:30 a.m. and heads to his day job as a seniors affairs specialist for 
the county.
  When we look back on these times, it won't be the great names and 
famous faces that we most remember, but those quiet, humble, yet so 
effective public servants like Larry Small who will stand out in our 
hearts and memories. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Larry Small and 
those like him who walk humbly and serve others. For this reason, I am 
so pleased that we can thank Mr. Small for all he has done for us by 
naming the post office in his beloved city of Beachwood after him.
  So it gives me great pleasure to have a chance to support this piece 
of legislation. I stand wholeheartedly in support of this bill and 
congratulate my colleagues in moving to passing this legislation to 
rename the post office in Beachwood, Ohio after our great friend, Larry 
Small.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4315.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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