[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S16091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LEWIS AND JEAN MOORE

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to two Ohioans 
who dedicated their lives to serving their local community of Urbana. 
Lewis B. Moore passed away on October 21, 2002, at the age of 91. His 
wife, Jean, passed away on September 12, 2001. I would like to take a 
few moments to reflect here today on this couple's legacy of service 
and the mark they left on the people of Urbana.
  Lewis Moore--Lew to his friends--was born in Paducah, KY, on July 23, 
1911. He graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1929 and from 
Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland in 1933 with a bachelor of 
science degree in electrical engineering. He married Jean Lillian 
Wenger in 1938, and they moved to Urbana in 1940, where Lew joined 
Grimes Manufacturing Company as a sales engineer. Later he served as 
chief engineer, sales manager, and vice president before eventually 
becoming president and board chairman.
  Under Lew's leadership, the company grew from 12 to more than 1,300 
employees. As president, he served as a mentor to many and as an 
example to all. If there were ever a disagreement with a customer, Lew 
used to tell his employees to always be honest with the customers. He 
would say: ``Tell them the truth--tell them what happened.'' Indeed, 
Lew Moore was a model of integrity.
  Together, Lew and Jean's values and visions for the future changed 
Urbana. Lew eventually ran for public office and served as Mayor of 
Urbana from 1980 to 1991. Under his leadership, Urbana underwent some 
big changes in the city government. Known affectionately as ``Mr. 
Urbana,'' Mayor Moore transformed the City of Urbana from a statutory 
system into a charter form of government--one of the most important of 
his contributions to the city government, noted Larry Wolke, former 
director of administration. According to David Martin, former Grimes 
employee and current Urbana City Council president, ``He had the best 
interests of the city and the citizens of Urbana in his heart and 
mind.''
  Working side-by-side with Lew to serve the Urbana community, Jean 
participated in the campaign that created the city's first youth center 
and organized and led her church's Prayer Connection. As one Prayer 
Connection member, Jack Neer, said of Jean, ``She was there for anyone 
in need.''
  No better illustration of their commitment to the interests and 
community of Urbana is found, however, than in Lew and Jean's 
involvement with the University of Urbana, where Lew served as building 
fundraiser and Jean served on the board of trustees for more than 35 
years. Through much of their lifetimes, Lew and Jean dedicated much of 
their time and resources to expanding and improving the institution. As 
Dr. Robert Head, Urbana University president said, ``It is not an 
overstatement to say that if it hadn't been for Lew and Jean Moore, 
Urbana University would not be here today.''
  Together, Jean and Lew spearheaded several campaigns to raise funds 
to enhance the university. In one project, they helped raise $400,000 
to build the Warren G. Grimes Community Center. In the early 1990's, 
Lew co-chaired efforts to raise funds for the math and science center--
a project totaling $3.1 million. According to Dr. Francis Hazard, 
former University president, ``When no one else stepped forward to head 
the campaign, they volunteered.'' He added that as the campaign neared 
its end and the structure had been completed, Moore cashed in a $75,000 
insurance policy to furnish its classrooms and laboratories.
  Lew and Jean Moore were selfless. They loved their community--their 
family, their friends, and their neighbors. It is no wonder the Urbana 
community affectionately refers to Lew as ``Mr. Urbana.'' Throughout 
their lives, they were devoted to their community. And through their 
service, Lew and Jean Moore provided a vision for Urbana's future. That 
is their legacy. We certainly miss them both deeply.
  My wife Fran and I continue to remember Lew, and we continue to 
remember Jean. They were both great friends. Left to cherish their 
memories and to pass on this legacy are their sons, Keith and Greg, and 
their wonderful families.
  We thank both Lew and Jean for their wonderful service to their 
community.

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