[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2256-E2257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MARY BESS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, ON HER RETIREMENT FROM 
         MADISON MEDICAL CENTER (FREDERICKTOWN--MADISON COUNTY)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, H. Jackson Brown Jr's book On Success 
reminds us to ``remember that overnight success usually takes about 
fifteen years.'' Well, if that is the case, then Mary E. Bess is an 
overnight success and then some. Having served the Madison Medical 
Center in Fredericktown for 25

[[Page E2257]]

years, Mary is retiring and leaving her position as Chief Financial 
Officer of the Center.
  As Mary retires and leaves the day to day work at the Madison Medical 
Center, she leaves an indelible mark on the entire Madison County 
region. For 25 years she has dedicated her professional life to 
improving health care affordability, accessibility and service. Her 
contributions have been a source of great pride and satisfaction for 
the Madison Medical Center and have resulted in such community-wide 
recognition as the Administrative Management Award for her hard work as 
a health care provider in Madison County.
  There is no doubt that Mary, a graduate of Greenville High School, 
who has spent a great deal of time and energy helping others, will not 
simply rest on laurels now that she is retiring. Instead, I'm sure that 
she will spend time on both new activities and favorite pastimes. 
Specifically, I am referring to enjoying time with those people who 
mean the most to her--her husband Hershel and her children, David and 
Dennis. But most of all, I am certain that those individuals who will 
benefit the most from her retirement will be her four grandchildren: 
Mallory, Chelsea, David Scott and Dustin.
  It's often been said that success is not measured by great wealth or 
material treasures. Instead, success is measured on the person you are, 
the life you live, and how your life influences the lives of others. If 
that is true, and I believe that it is, then we are all richer for 
knowing Mary Bess.
  While Mary may be leaving the Madison Medical Center, her 
contributions to the organization are timeless and will endure. She 
leaves the Madison Medical Center far stronger, smarter and richer than 
it was when she joined it and that is a legacy for which she can be 
proud.
  Mr. Speaker, on this very special occasion, I ask that all of my 
colleagues join me in congratulating Mary on this milestone and wish 
her every happiness for the future.

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