[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E89]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E89]]



             A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE RUBY BUTLER DeMESME

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the 
accomplishments and career of one of North Carolina's daughters, Mrs. 
Ruby Butler DeMesme. Mrs. DeMesme, a public servant of the highest 
order, recently retired from her post as Assistant Secretary of the Air 
Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment 
after 32 years of service.
  Mrs. DeMesme earned her bachelor of arts degree in English from Saint 
Augustine's College in Raleigh in 1969. Ten years later she earned a 
master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at 
Chapel Hill. Before beginning her civil service career, Mrs. DeMesme 
was a highly recognized and respected expert on child and spousal abuse 
and adolescent programs for the Cumberland County Department of Social 
Services in Fayetteville.
  Mrs. DeMesme's career in the federal work force began in 1980 as an 
Army adjutant and diversion chief in Mainz, West Germany, where she led 
the effort to improve family support and quality of life programs. In 
1989, she left the Department of the Army and served as a senior aide 
to former Senator John Glenn. After leaving Capitol Hill, Mrs. DeMesme 
returned to the Army for a brief time until her move to the Department 
of the Air Force in 1991, where she would work until her retirement. 
She was appointed and confirmed to her current post on August 13, 1998.
  Over her ten years with the Air Force, Mrs. DeMesme was responsible 
for increasing housing and station funding policies, establishing the 
military Transition Assistance Program, and working to ensure that the 
Air Force had the highest quality child development programs. She was 
also the catalyst behind the effort to revitalize communities affected 
by base closures and realignments, overhauled the military commissary 
and base exchange system, established policies regarding harassment and 
discrimination, and led the Department of Defense in military family 
housing privatization.
  Mrs. DeMesme has touched the lives of thousands of people during her 
distinguished career and it is fitting that we honor her today. Ruby 
Butler DeMesme is a true patriot who has helped maintain the best 
military force in the world. Today, I thank her for her years of 
dedicated service to our brave men and women in uniform and wish the 
very best for her and her family in the years to come.

                          ____________________