[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THOSE WHO MAKE SENSE OF YESTERDAY'S EVENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2001

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, in 1961 work began between two Germanies on a 
concrete wall 28 miles long which would divide a people and become the 
physical symbol of the division between two great world powers.
  In 1961 the international manned space race began in earnest with 
Russia beating the United States to the first major goal by placing 
Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit.
  In 1961 the robust air carrier TWA became the first airline to offer 
in-flight movies on international flights.
  In 1961 the former African colony of Tanganyika became an independent 
country
  In 1961 President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the nation's 
youngest President.
  And in 1961 two young historians and academics began their teaching 
careers at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri.
  Forty years later the Berlin wall exists only in scattered pieces 
around the world and Germany once again stands as a single nation. 
American and Russian astronauts today jointly man the International 
Space Station. TWA has merged into American Airlines and Tanganyika has 
joined with Zanzibar to become Tanzania. President Kennedy was felled 
by an assassin's bullet. What has remained unchanged is that Drs. 
Harlie Gallatin and Frank Cunningham are still helping students at what 
is now Southwest Baptist University not only learn the details of 
history, but understand how events of past decades, centuries and 
millennia effect our lives today.
  I rise today to commend these two men who are scholars in every sense 
of the word, dedicating their lives to their discipline and their 
students. Near the beginning of their careers as a student and near the 
end as University President, I benefitted from their scholarship as 
well as their example in commitment to Faith and family.
  Through the years thousands of young people have not only learned 
about the heritage of our nation and world, but have developed a deep 
love and respect for history. Many of those students now make 
significant contributions to the betterment of our nation and world as 
civic and governmental leaders, educators, scientists, ministers and at 
least one congressman.
  At the end of this academic year Dr. Gallatin retires as Chairman of 
the Department of History and Political Science at the University where 
he has worked tirelessly to develop faculty, curricula, and students. 
He has seen the school grow from a junior college to a four year 
institution and finally to a University. Dr. Cunningham although 
retiring from the full-time faculty in 1996 continues to remain active 
in the department as Emeritus Senior Professor of History.
  Today, I want to thank these two men for their commitment both to the 
discipline of history and to their sharing a respect for and insight 
into history with all those young lives they have touched over the past 
four decades. Both these men repeatedly went out of their way to help 
struggling students understand difficult concepts, and learn to examine 
significant events with a discerning eye. They helped students view 
historic events without having to reject their religious faith. They 
have not invested their lives in vain.
  My colleagues in this chamber often wrestle with the issues of 
history: how our actions will impact future generations and how we will 
be viewed. I know they join me in thanking Drs. Gallatin and Cunningham 
for their work in helping us to use the events of yesterday to craft 
solutions challenges of tomorrow.

                          ____________________