[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RETIREMENT OF BUDDY AND PAT DEAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 1, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to 
rise today to recognize the retirement of Buddy and Pat Deas. For over 
35 years, Buddy taught students of all ages, and his wife Pat was by 
his side in the classroom during much of that time.
  I had the great privilege of learning from Mr. Deas in my high school 
agriculture class. As a teacher, Mr. Deas always believed in ``focusing 
on the student rather than the subject being taught,'' and that ``while 
the subject matter is important, it is often the media through which we 
can teach those larger lessons of life.'' Buddy Deas emphasized the 
civic duties each of us has to our nation, and why it is important to 
always think of ways to help others.
  Buddy also influenced me in many areas other than agriculture. In 
fact, he taught me about public speaking and parliamentary procedure. 
Without that early influence and knowledge, it is difficult to imagine 
where I would be today. As a mentor, he taught me how to use these 
skills; as a friend he taught me why I should use these skills to work 
for other people. Buddy transcended many areas of education as he 
coached state champion public speakers and state champion agriculture 
mechanics teams. He also encouraged others to take up teaching, and 
even supervised student teachers as they came into their new 
profession. Furthermore, he taught me other life skills that I continue 
to use today. Outside of my own parents and God, Buddy Deas had the 
single largest influence on me as a young man.
  Mrs. Deas has been recognized on more than one occasion as an 
exceptional school volunteer. She and her husband worked exceptionally 
well together, not just as husband and wife, but also as teachers in 
the same classroom. In 1993, Alachua County, Florida, recognized Mrs. 
Deas as its Outstanding School Volunteer of the year. The very same 
year, she was named the Outstanding School Volunteer for the 19-county 
Crown Region of the State of Florida. Mrs. Deas was one of 15 school 
volunteers from around the state recognized at the Commissioner of 
Education's Outstanding School Volunteer Awards Banquet.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to 
congratulate and offer my sincere commendation to Buddy and Pat Deas 
for reaching out and touching the lives of thousands of our nation's 
young people.

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