[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6269-H6270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ROLLAN D. MELTON POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4102) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 120 North Maine Street in Fallon, Nevada, as the
``Rollan D. Melton Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4102
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ROLLAN D. MELTON POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 120 North Maine Street in Fallon, Nevada,
shall be known and designated as the ``Rollan D. Melton Post
Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Rollan D. Melton Post Office Building.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Cannon) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon).
{time} 1445
general leave
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the bill under consideration, H.R. 4102.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4102, introduced by our distinguished colleague
from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) designates the facility of the United States
Postal Service in Fallon, Nevada, as the Rollan D. Melton Post Office
Building. All Members of the House delegation from the State of Nevada
are cosponsors of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, Rollan Melton was a credit to the field of journalism
and a
[[Page H6270]]
devoted resident of the town of Fallon in the gentleman from Nevada's
(Mr. Gibbons) district. At this time, Mr. Speaker, the sponsor of the
legislation, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), has asked me to
read a statement on his behalf because he regrets that he is unable to
be here today.
``It is only fitting that this post office, which is an integral part
of the Fallon community, be named after the man who dedicated his life
to the town, its people, and the goal of keeping small communities like
Fallon connected to the world through their local newspaper.
``A prominent resident of Fallon, Nevada, Rollan Melton established a
remarkable career in journalism and never forgot his hometown roots.
``Born July 21, 1931, in Boise, Idaho, Rollan Melton moved to Fallon
as a young boy. He played football for the Fallon High School and went
on to the University of Nevada on a Harold's Club scholarship. He
always appreciated his Fallon years and would later endow a scholarship
at Fallon's Churchill County High School to celebrate the help he had
from his high school teachers and coaches.
``As a young man, Melton quickly embarked on a career of journalism.
He would write for the London Observer, the Wall Street Journal and
several New York City papers. Yet, Melton loved his home State of
Nevada and in 1957, he joined the Reno Evening Gazette where he could
write about his hometown and the surrounding communities.
``He would hold various positions at the paper including reporter,
sports editor, telegraph editor, promotion manager, and, finally,
editor and publisher of the paper which would become known as the Reno
Gazette-Journal.
``Throughout his newspaper career, he remained active in numerous
philanthropic organizations. He served as a trustee and officer of the
Jon Ben Snow Trust based at Syracuse, New York. The trust gives about
$300,000 in grants each year in Nevada.
``Melton was also a member of the Nevada Board of Regents, earning
the designation of a Distinguished Nevadan.
``Of all his positions, the one he loved the most was columnist, and
he wrote frequently about Fallon and its people. On November 30, 2001,
Melton was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame. He was also
named to the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame.
``Melton completed 23 years of column writing in October 2001. His
first book, Nevadans, was published in 1988. His second, an
autobiography entitled Sonny's Story, was published by the University
of Nevada in 1988. And the third book, 101 Nevada Columns, was
published on his 70th birthday on 2001.
``As a distinguished writer, Rollan Melton found his inspiration in
the people of Nevada. Naming the Fallon Post Office in his honor would
be a great tribute to his work and commitment to the Silver State and
to the town he loved so much, Fallon, Nevada.''
Mr. Speaker, this concludes the statement from the gentleman from
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 4102.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague who, as usual, is doing a great job
on this for his colleague and for the entire delegation over there.
Mr. Speaker, I am a member of the House Committee on Government
Reform and I am pleased to join the gentleman in the consideration of
H.R. 4102 which names that post office in Fallon, Nevada, for the late
Rollan D. Melton.
Mr. Speaker, As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform,
I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 4102,
which names a post office in Fallon, Nevada, after the late Rollon D.
Melton, H.R. 4102, which enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the
entire Nevada delegation, was introduced by the gentleman from Nevada
(Mr. Gibbons (R-NV)) on April 9, 2002.
Mr. Rollon Melton graduated from the University of Nevada in 1955. A
journalism major, Rollon served as the sports editor of the campus
paper, ``Sagebrush'' and worked as the city editor of a Nevada weekly.
In 1957, he joined the Reno Evening Gazette as a reporter, eventually
rising to the position of editor and publisher.
As Chairman and CEO of Speidel Newspapers, Mr. Melton negotiated the
Speidel merger with Gannett in 1977, and served on the Gannett board
for two years. In 1979, he was chosen as a Distinguished Nevadan.
An avid supporter of a sound college education, Mr. Melton served as
an interim dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism. He was also a
member of the advisory board for the Reynolds School of Journalism,
Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Society and the College of Arts and Science.
Active in fine arts and educational programs, Mr. Melton continued to
remain a columnist for the Reno Gazette-Journal until his death on
January 13, 2002.
Mr. Speaker, I comment the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for
seeking to honor Rollon D. Melton by naming a post office after him in
his adopted city of Fallon, Nevada and urge the swift passage of this
bill.
Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4102.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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