[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SHEILA LOCKWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a bittersweet mission--to 
honor a most cherished staff member, Ms. Sheila Lockwood, on her 
retirement from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
  Sheila began her federal government service career in Washington as a 
clerk-typist for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
After six years at HUD, Sheila joined the staff of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure.
  For the past 24 years, Sheila has served the Members of the Committee 
and its staff with grace under pressure, uncommon ability, and an 
irreverent style that endeared her to all. She has worked for six 
different Chairmen and Ranking Democratic Members including Harold 
``Bizz'' Johnson, Jim Howard, Glenn Anderson, Bob Roe, Norm Mineta, and 
me. She has held many titles and roles--staff assistant, assistant 
office manager, assistant to the Chief Counsel, executive staff 
assistant, office manager, and systems administrator--to name but a 
few.
  But titles have never mattered to Sheila; helping people and 
completing the job have. From Chairman of the Committee to the unpaid 
intern, she has always been available to help. She has been the glue 
that has held our Committee and its staff together and we truly 
appreciate her many important contributions.
  Sheila has spent many years supporting our legislative staff in the 
preparation of documents, charts, tables, and statements. She has the 
innate ability to create easy-to-read materials that enable Members to 
read documents and charts and quickly discern the critical information. 
Having worked for the Full Committee for so many years, she has seen it 
all and always found a way to get it done.
  In addition, although she began her career with the Committee using a 
typewriter, Sheila always served as our in-house systems administrator. 
With each new computer program, Sheila became the expert to whom all 
would appeal with any computer problem or question, of which there are 
always many. From Word 11 to Microsoft Word, she always had the 
answer--and the patience to explain it.
  One prime example of both Sheila's can-do work ethic and considerable 
computer skills was her work on the Committee's Democratic Web site. 
Several years ago, we needed to find a way to more efficiently update 
our Committee's Democratic Web site. We wanted to be able to provide 
the public with immediate access to the Democratic position on 
Committee issues and legislation. Sheila took it upon herself to become 
our ``Web diva'', as she would say, teaching herself how to post 
information on the site. Over time, she redesigned the site to make it 
more user-friendly and to enable users to conduct searches for issues. 
Within the past four years, the site has received more than 50,000 hits 
and has become an essential tool for the transportation community.
  Sheila's greatest contribution to the Committee flowed from her 
personal qualities--her genially irreverent style, her interest in her 
colleagues, and her absolute grace under pressure. Sheila started each 
day with the theme song to her favorite TV show, Hawaii Five-O, and, 
after her dance to the song, her ``complaining'' began--she made us all 
laugh. She genuinely cares about her colleagues and has always been 
there to help. In essence, Sheila has simply made the Committee a much 
better place in which to work.
  Mr. Speaker, after 30 years of public service, Sheila returns home to 
Woodland Park, Colorado, to have the opportunity to spend more time 
with her beloved family, especially her mother. She carries with her 
our gratitude for her service, and our prayers for good health and 
happiness in the many years ahead.

                          ____________________