[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E61]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE ROBERT J. DOLE COMMUNITY CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2004

  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing legislation to 
authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to rename the community center 
at McConnell Air Force Base, currently known as ``Emerald City,'' as 
``The Robert J. Dole Community Center.'' I would like to thank my 
colleagues from Kansas, Mr. Ryun, Mr. Moran and Mr. Moore, for agreeing 
to join as original cosponsors of the bill.
  Senator Dole once said that his life ``is proof that America is a 
land without limits.'' He was born in Russell, Kansas, on July 22, 
1923, the eldest son of Doran R. and Bina Talbott Dole. He graduated 
from Russell public schools and attended the University of Kansas, 
Lawrence, entering in the fall of 1941. He received an A.B. and LL.B 
from Washburn Municipal University in 1952.
  Senator Dole entered active duty in the U.S. Army in June 1943 after 
completing his sophomore year at the University of Kansas. He served 
5\1/2\ years in World War II and was a 10th Mountain Division platoon 
leader in the Allied liberation of Northern Italy. During this time, he 
was twice wounded and twice decorated for ``heroic achievement,'' and 
was discharged with the rank of Captain in July 1948, having 
convalesced for 3 years from grave wounds sustained in combat.
  In 1950, he was elected to the Kansas Legislature and served for 2 
years before being elected Russell County Attorney, a position he 
served in for 8 years. In 1960, he was elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives and reelected in 1962, 1964 and 1966. He was elected to 
the U.S. Senate in 1968 and was reelected in 1974, 1980, 1986 and 1992.
  One of the many lasting contributions that Bob Dole made to the State 
of Kansas and to the American people was the manner in which he worked 
to strengthen McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita over the course of 
his nearly 4 decades of service in the U.S. House of Representatives 
and the U.S. Senate.
  Due largely to his efforts, infrastructure improvements at the base 
have included a base hospital, housing for single officers and enlisted 
personnel, and a multifaceted community center, ``Emerald City,'' which 
contains a bowling center, officer and enlisted clubs, a fitness center 
and a cafeteria.
  In honor of Senator Dole's service to Kansas and to the men and women 
who have called McConnell Air Force Base home, I am pleased to 
introduce this legislation, which authorizes the Secretary of the Air 
Force to rename the community center at McConnell Air Force Base, 
currently known as ``Emerald City,'' as ``The Robert J. Dole Community 
Center.''

                          ____________________