[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO LOUISE BEAUDOIN IN CELEBRATION OF HER FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE 
                  IN THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a constituent 
of mine, a true ``yooper'' in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who has 
served in the United States Postal Service for more than a half 
century. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Louise Beaudoin in recognition of 
her fifty years of working at the post office in Trout Lake, Michigan.
  Born in 1927, in Moran, Michigan, Louise married Neil Beaudoin 58 
years ago and has lived in Trout Lake ever since.
  Louise Beaudoin began her career in the United States Post Office in 
Trout Lake on February 22, 1952. Trout Lake, a small resort town in the 
Eastern Upper Peninsula, is located approximately 30 miles northwest of 
the Mackinac Bridge, in the heart of the Eastern U.P. snowmobile 
country. This resort town consists of three lakes--perfect for fishing, 
boating, and swimming, a number of small resorts and restaurants, as 
well as a campground and park. Truly a vacationer's delight.
  While Trout Lake is too small to support a school, it does rely 
heavily on its local post office as a means of contact with the outside 
world. Louise Beaudoin, the current Postmaster, has overseen operations 
at Trout Lake postal center for 19 years. This post office, which has 
no computers, manually processes all mail sent to and received by the 
town of approximately 600.
  Louise began her career in Trout Lake as a part time flex employee. 
She was converted to a career appointment in November of 1971, and has 
served as Postmaster since 1983. Affectionately referred to as ``Aunt 
Louise,'' ``Weezie'' or ``Weezer'' by townspeople and friends, Louise 
Beaudoin has served under seven Postmasters. Throughout her tenure in 
the post office, Louise has received numerous awards including: 
``Beyond the Call of Duty'' lapel pin, the Superior Achievement Award; 
a 30 year service pin, a 45 year ruby service pin; and in June of this 
year, the 50 year diamond lapel pin as well as a resolution from the 
Michigan Legislature.
  Louise has two sons Richard and Mark Beaudoin. Richard has followed 
in his mother's footsteps, working for the USPS in West Palm Beach, 
Florida, while Mark owns Beaudoin Sanitation in Trout Lake. She has two 
granddaughters in Trout Lake, Amy and Erin, who actively help Louise by 
washing windows, sweeping sidewalks and shoveling snow. Outside of her 
work in the post office, Louise is actively involved in St. Mary's 
Catholic Church, and the Trout Lake Women's Club.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 21, 2002, Louise Beaudoin officially celebrated 
her fifty years of service to the United States Postal Service in Trout 
Lake. She was joined by her friends and family as well as several other 
postmasters in the Eastern Upper Peninsula recognizing her tireless 
dedication to the community of Trout Lake and the United States Postal 
Service. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in 
saluting, Louise Beaudoin, a woman who exemplifies the very best 
qualities of the good people residing in the First Congressional 
District of Michigan.

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