[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 18, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO VIRGINIA SHEHEE

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I wish to join with my colleague, 
Senator Breaux, in recognizing the great civic contributions of my dear 
friend, Virginia Shehee. It is so appropriate that the Biomedical 
Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana should be gathering to honor 
this amazing woman, whose vision and energy led to the creation of the 
Foundation and the many benefits that it has produced for the citizens 
of Shreveport--Bossier and Northwest Louisiana.
  I have known Virginia Shehee and come to treasure her example and her 
friendship in my service as a State official in Louisiana and in my 
first term as a U.S. Senator. To those of us who believe that Louisiana 
must move aggressively to be part of the knowledge-based economy, the 
evolution of Biomed and the opportunities it has come to represent 
stand as a model of civic leadership and foresight. It is the story of 
a community that dared to dream big dreams at a time in its history 
when those dreams seemed most remote.
  But those dreams are coming true, and young people who once had to 
leave home to participate in the new economy are now finding 
significant career opportunities in Northwest Louisiana. Of all the 
community leaders who can share in the credit for this remarkable 
achievement, none has played a larger role than Virginia Shehee. Her 
grit and unyielding persistence led to millions of dollars in state and 
federal construction and program dollars for a Biomedical Research 
Institute. And her salesmanship and gentle charm have opened doors to a 
world of promising cooperative relationships and new corporate citizens 
for Shreveport.
  Some years ago, not too long after the Institute opened its doors, 
Virginia led a blue-ribbon group of Shreveporters, some half her age, 
on an industry-hunting trip through the mid-Atlantic and New England. 
Nothing could capture the indefatigable energy of the leader of the 
trip more than the words of a lapel button, which someone distributed 
to participants after the trip: ``I Survived Shehee's March!''
  As the CEO of one of Louisiana's largest companies and as a leader in 
the insurance industry, as one of the earliest women members of the 
Louisiana Legislature, as a caring steward of our great state 
university, as a devoted wife and mother and as someone who gives 
utterly selflessly and endlessly to her community, Virginia Shehee has 
earned the love and admiration of all of us who are privileged to know 
her and work with her. It will be a great moment for me on the evening 
of Friday, November 3, when I get to be part of the evening in which 
the Shreveport community says, ``Thanks, Virginia. Let Shehee's March 
continue.'' 

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