[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1655-E1656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RETIREMENT OF EVE BUTLER-GEE, CHIEF JOURNAL CLERK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM RYUN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to stand before 
you today to honor Mrs. Eve Butler-Gee, a Virginian by birth but a 
Kansan by marriage, on her 20 years of service in the House of 
Representatives. Eve's husband, Tom, was raised in Leavenworth, Kansas, 
and his mother, Gertrude, still lives there as a constituent of mine. 
In addition to seeing Eve on the House floor, we have run into each 
other at social events as we are both members of the Kansas Society.
  In 1987, Eve was appointed as the Minority Enrolling Clerk of the 
House by Minority Leader Bob Michel. In 1995, she became the first 
woman appointed as Chief Journal Clerk of the House, and in this 
position she has faithfully served for the past 8 years.
  Eve's many years of service were performed with character worthy of 
praise and emulation. Her attentiveness and thoroughness were proved by 
successfully fulfilling her duties as Journal Clerk, duties which 
require great attention to details. Her initiative, enthusiasm, and 
resourcefulness were proved by

[[Page E1656]]

her promotion to Chief Journal Clerk. And her dependability, endurance, 
faithfulness, and loyalty were proved by her 20 years of selfless 
public service to the House of Representatives.
  Not only does Eve serve others at her job, but she also actively 
serves others in her private life as well. She is Head Verger of the 
Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna, Virginia, and she has recently 
been invited to serve as Volunteer Verger at the National Cathedral. 
Also, Eve plans on returning to her activities in the community 
theater, which she has been unable to participate in due to the 
demanding schedule of the House.
  An ancient Hebrew Proverb teaches that, ``A good name is rather to be 
chosen than great riches.'' To earn the ``good name'' spoken of in this 
Proverb, one must be committed to utmost integrity. Eve's unwavering 
commitment to integrity has rewarded her with a ``good name.'' 
Moreover, Eve's shining inner character allows her to leave the House 
with truly significant ``riches'' worth far more than money or wealth--
a legacy of 20 years of honorable service and an unscathed reputation 
of utmost integrity.

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