[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 18, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1350-E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MARY WALKER CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, when Ms. Mary Walker Clark was asked to 
reveal her age, she replied, ``A lady never tells that kind of 
information,'' then added with a smile on her face, ``I was born in 
1894, you figure it out.'' It brings me great pleasure to have this 
opportunity to offer my congratulations and admiration to Mary Walker 
Clark who celebrated her 107th birthday on July 16 in the town of 
Montrose, Colorado--making her the oldest living individual in the 
entire state of Colorado.
  In quaint Angels Camp, California, Mary was born in 1894. When she 
was only 40 days old, her family relocated to Ouray, Colorado. Today, 
Mary lives at the San Juan Living

[[Page E1351]]

Center in Montrose, Colorado. She was blessed with two sons--Jack, who 
is a business owner and lives in Ouray, and Lester who resides in Grand 
Junction, Colorado.
  No day would be complete for Mary without her son Jack delivering a 
small soda and an order of french fries from the local McDonald's 
restaurant. Since she was old enough to have solid food, Mary has 
always loved french fries and her affection for these potatoes has 
sparked a keen interest in her community. She was recently been asked 
to perform the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening for the new 
McDonald's in Montrose. Mary attributes her longevity to not only the 
french fries, but also the hard work and dedication that she has 
performed throughout her life.
  When Mary was in junior high school, she quit her formal schooling to 
assist her mother in cooking, cleaning and washing for the local miners 
in order to feed the six children in their family. Since that time, it 
seems that she has never stopped providing for others. Mary often 
cooked for community dinners, aided her brother at his market, carried 
on her husband's moonshine business after he passed away, and operated 
a legitimate liquor store following Prohibition. In addition, she did 
numerous tasks at two hotels and also offered a helping hand at her 
son's bakery. Not surprisingly, at the age of 97, she was still 
carrying her own coal to her furnace--two buckets at a time. Mary often 
wonders ``why such a fuss'' is being made over her.
  Mr. Speaker, Mary Clark is a phenomenal individual who has dedicated 
her life to the service of others through her hard work. French fries 
and a strong work ethic have contributed greatly to her longevity and 
it is with great pleasure that I honor her today. Happy Birthday Mary!

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