[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S61]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               150TH ANNIVERSARY OF WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI

 Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today to salute the citizens 
of Warrensburg, MO, in celebration of their 150th anniversary as an 
incorporated town.
  The town of Warrensburg was incorporated in 1855 as a community proud 
of its heritage and loyal to the ideals, traditions and institutions 
that have contributed to the success and growth of the city.
  Warrensburg prides itself as being a self-contained city with a 
vibrant employment base, excellent education system, active cultural 
scene, and many civic events and activities for residents to enjoy.
  Warrensburg serves as the county seat for Johnson County, and is 
currently home to 17,075 residents who are served by an excellent 
school system which has been accredited with Distinction in Performance 
by the Missouri State Board of Education. The Warrensburg School System 
has also been named a Gold Medal School, ranking them among the 
Nation's top 18 percent of schools.
  The community is also the proud home of Central Missouri State 
University, which has provided quality postsecondary education for more 
than 130 years. This comprehensive university annually serves nearly 
14,000 students from all over the State, Nation, and world, and offers 
more than 150 areas of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
  The city's heartland work ethic and community pride make it a great 
place to do business, with several local companies which have grown 
into national and international prominence aided by the exceptional 
workforce and affordable business climate. Warrensburg is home of 
EnerSys, G.E. Transportation Systems, ThyssenKrupp Stahl Company, 
Swisher Mower, Bomag Paving Products, and the world headquarters of 
both Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and Carlyle Van Lines.
  Warrensburg is also proud of its rich diversity, with over 35 
different languages spoken within the Warrensburg School District, and 
over 30 faith communities gathering for worship and service each week.
  Warrensburg is also the boyhood home of John William ``Blind'' Boone, 
the legendary ragtime composer and piano player; home of the first 
gasoline-powered, push lawn mower invented by Leonard Goodall; the 
original self-propelled mower and the zero-turning radius riding lawn 
mower both invented by Max Swisher, who remains a Warrensburg resident; 
and Errett Lobban Cord, inventor of Cord Automobiles.
  Finally, Warrensburg is also the hometown of Old Drum, the hunting 
dog for which Senator George Graham Vest's ``Eulogy on the Dog'' was 
delivered, coining the idea that ``man's best friend is his dog.''
  I am honored to share Warrensburg's proud history and its 
sesquicentennial anniversary as a town with my colleagues, and I wish 
the people of Warrensburg all the best for the future.

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