[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF RUTH BARBER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2003

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the achievements and honoring the service of Ruth 
Barber.
  Ruth has devoted much of her life in the service of others. Much of 
that time was service to the United States Postal Service. Most 
recently, Ruth served as the National PAC Chair with the National 
Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) until she 
retired.
  Ruth grew up in New Athens, Illinois, ``on the wrong side of the 
tracks'' as she puts it. Her father was a coal miner and her mother was 
a housewife. Ruth married Raymond Barber on August 30, 1941 and he 
passed away in 1982. Ruth and Ray had two children, a son Richard who 
passed away in 1995 and the ``joy of her life,'' her daughter Barbara.
  Ruth worked as a drill press operator at the Bostich Wire Staple 
plant during World War II. While at Bostich, Ruth was responsible for 
drilling the barrels on Garrand rifles and inspected the 30 and 50 
caliber shells at the small arms plant in St. Louis, Missouri.
  Her service with the United States Postal Service began in 1967, as a 
clerk in the U.S. Post Office in Freeburg, Illinois. The local 
Postmaster at the time, Mr. Herbert Baltz, hired Ruth and she then 
worked in every position available at the Post Office in Freeburg. She 
started as a clerk, and also worked as a window clerk, Supervisor, 
finance office, Assistant Postmaster and the Officer in Charge (OIC). 
She was appointed the U.S. Postmaster of Freeburg in October 1979.
  Her involvement with NAPUS started in 1975, when she was a 
Supervisor. Her active involvement in NAPUS activities allowed her to 
be appointed as the State Chair in 1990. Ruth has attended every state 
convention of NAPUS since 1982 and has attended all the national 
conventions as well. Ruth also has attended every Leadership Conference 
in Washington, DC since 1982. She retired from the active service with 
the United States Post Office on August 30, 1990 but remained active in 
the community having served with the Freeburg Chamber of Commerce.
  Ruth works tirelessly in the service of the USPS and NAPUS. I have 
visited with Ruth on more than one occasion where she has strongly 
advocated the issues and concerns of the working men and women of the 
United States Postal Service. She has a genuine, personal interest in 
helping to improve the working conditions at the Postal Service. Ruth 
performs all of her duties with a tremendous gusto and enthusiasm, 
unique to her. I am proud to honor the service of Ruth Barber and wish 
her all the best in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the service 
and the achievements of Ruth Barber and wish her and her family all the 
best.

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