[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 172 (Sunday, November 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP OF ROBERT SIDNEY AND GAIL PHELAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Robert Sidney and 
Gail Phelan, fine public servants who have dedicated themselves 
throughout their lives as loyal citizens to our community.
  The couple married in 1958, months after Gail had been crowned Miss 
Trenton. They are members of the 1st United Methodist Church of Trenton 
and the proud parents of Robert Sidney Phelan, Jr., Paul Edmund Phelan, 
and Mary LeAnn Phelan. Robert and Gail also have three grandchildren 
and two step-grandchildren.
  Robert operated the family business, a Ford automobile dealership, 
for 50 years, before selling it. He has since started a smaller 
independent dealership. In 1963, Robert became the acting Postmaster 
while continuing to run his auto dealership. He also served in the 
Tennessee National Guard, from which he retired as a First Lieutenant. 
With the help of U.S. Senator Jim Sasser, Robert was instrumental in 
establishing a new National Guard Armory in 1991.
  He has served as Exalted Ruler of the Trenton Elks Lodge and 
President of the Trenton Chamber of Commerce. Robert also served on the 
Trenton Rotary Club, the Gibson County Election Commission, the Trenton 
Housing Authority Board and the Trenton Industrial Board. He served on 
the board of Citizen State Bank, spending some of that tenure as 
Chairman. Robert worked diligently to form Citizen City and County 
Bank, where he now serves as Chairman of the Board.
  The Phelans have always been devoted to the Democratic Party on 
local, state and national levels, including involvement with 
generations of Tennessee governors, Members of Congress and Vice 
President Al Gore. Their son Paul served for 10 years as a State 
Representative.
  The family was instrumental in the formation of the Trenton Special 
School District and years later helped replace the aging school 
building with a new high school. Believing that Gibson County could 
support a satellite community college, Robert and Gail also helped 
raise money to fund Dyersburg State Community College in Trenton.
  Gail has dedicated much of her life to the education of her children 
and others in our community. She has always been very involved in 
school parent organizations and takes an active role in making our 
schools better, including beautiful murals in school hallways.
  Gail has not limited her helpful involvement to working with 
children, however. A cancer survivor, she has been an active 
participant in Relay for Life efforts of the American Cancer Society 
and has helped counsel others who are also battling cancer, using her 
own experiences to help comfort those around her.
  Mr. Speaker, please join Robert and Gail's friends and family as we 
recognize their dedication and service to our community.

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