[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 77 (Friday, June 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO RICHARD MATTHEWS: EDUCATOR, EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR AND 
                            COMMUNITY LEADER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
contributions and achievements of Mr. Richard Matthews, who will be 
retiring as Assistant Principal of Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary 
School in Miami, Florida after thirty-five years in education.
  Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary School is the educational home for 
over 1,000 students, ages three through eleven. The student body is 
comprised mainly of recent immigrants who are primarily from Haitian-
Creole linguistic backgrounds and have limited proficiency in English. 
Many of the students come from economically disadvantaged homes. 
Meeting the educational needs of these students is one of the toughest 
jobs in education, but it is one of the most important in the United 
States of America, a nation of immigrants. Richard Matthews was up to 
task.
  He spent much of his adult life as an educator in the Miami-Dade 
County Public Schools, and his judgement, skill and experience have 
been invaluable. Mr. Matthews advocated learning from the past, 
assessing the present and managing for the future. But when it came to 
preparing for his own retirement, he reflected on what he called the 
fallacy of mis-placed prudence, proclaiming that life is what happens 
while you're out making other plans.
  Although teaching is a full time job, Richard Matthews found the time 
to contribute to the lives of young people in many other ways, 
including as Executive Vice President, Dade County, School 
Administrator Association, Local 84; Minister of the Eucharist, St. 
Catherine of Siena Catholic Church; Chaperone, Miami Killian Marching 
Band; Retired Commander, U.S. Navy Supply Corps: Past Union Steward, 
United Teacher of Dade, Arvida Middle School; Past President, Catholic 
Alumni Club of Miami; Past Troop Leader Boy Scouts of America; Past 
Advisor Sea Scouts of America; and Cofounder, Peter Flores Scholarship 
Fund, Learning Experience School of Miami.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues join with the students, 
parents, and staff of Phyllis R. Miller Elementary School, and with all 
of those in our community whose lives have been touched by his, in 
expressing our thanks and appreciation to Mr. Matthews for all that he 
has contributed and for doing an important job, and doing it well.
  We wish you great happiness and success as you begin this next new 
chapter in your life.

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