[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO LOIS PEARSALL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2001

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lois Pearsall 
upon the occasion of her retirement as a rural development specialist 
with the United States Department of Agriculture in Caro, Michigan. 
Lois has given 35 years of dedicated service to her country through her 
employment with various governmental agencies since 1965.
  Lois began her government career as a clerk stenographer with the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff and Department of the Army at the Pentagon in 
Washington, D.C. before relocating to Michigan in 1970. Since then, her 
unparalleled devotion to addressing the needs of Michigan residents has 
earned her many awards for both the quality and effectiveness of her 
work.
  Over the years, Lois has set the standard in her service to the 
residents of mid-Michigan, consistently going well above and beyond the 
basic requirements of her job to aid those faced with financial 
hardship. In her role in the Rural Housing Program and Farmer Loan 
programs, she played an integral part in providing shelter and economic 
stability to some of the more vulnerable citizens of our communities. 
She has been a vital and tireless leader in securing decent, safe and 
affordable housing in rural Michigan.
  Most recently, Lois has worked as a loan specialist for the Multi-
Family Housing Program. Overseeing the management of more than 250 
apartment projects in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Lois has spent 
countless hours and expended considerable energy in guiding innumerable 
communities, borrowers, tenants and management companies into housing 
partnerships to put roofs over the heads of a considerable number of 
families throughout the state.
  All those who have benefitted from Lois' efforts no doubt also owe a 
debt of gratitude to her husband, Al, and son, Albert, for their 
willingness to share Lois' time and talents for the benefit of the 
commonwealth. Lois will be the first to acknowledge that Al's and 
Albert's work on the family farm gave her the time and freedom to help 
other farm families, friends, neighbors and strangers achieve their 
dreams.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deep appreciation to 
Lois and her family for outstanding service and wishing them well in 
all future endeavors.

                          ____________________