[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING BEAUMONT, TEXAS MAYOR EVELYN LORD

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a sterling individual in 
my Southeast Texas District--the Mayor of Beaumont--Mrs. Evelyn Lord.
  Following an over-two-decade-long tradition of service to Jefferson 
County, she will step down from office on May 17th. Through the years, 
Mayor Lord has left an indelible imprint on the Beaumont community and 
while she is entitled to a well-deserved break, she undoubtedly will be 
missed.
  Mayor Lord began her legacy in local government in 1980 when she was 
elected to the first of two terms on the Beaumont City Council. Her 
plans to run for office in 1984 were cut short when her husband and 
close confidant, Sam, was transferred to Northern Ireland by his 
employer. Towards the end of 1988, however, she returned to Beaumont 
and was elected mayor two years later. Mayor Lord then served two 
successful terms and retired in 1994.
  At a critical juncture in the City's history, she was encouraged to 
return to public life and in 2002 was once again elected to the 
mayorship. Only when she was certain that the City was on the path to 
healing did she decide to forego a fifth term as Mayor.
  During her tenure, Mayor Lord remained keenly aware of the unique 
threats that the Beaumont area could face in a post-September 11 
environment. Accordingly, she shepherded the efforts to develop a 
distinct homeland security plan for Southeast Texas, which has served 
as a model state-wide. And, realizing that quality of life issues are 
often the basis for community revitalization, she spearheaded the 
creative charge to improve Beaumont's park system through public-
private partnerships.
  Demonstrating the high regard in which she is held among her peers, 
Mayor Lord was elected to the Board of Directors of the United 
States Conference of Mayors and served in such key positions as Chair 
of the organization's Arts and Recreation Standing Committee and as a 
member of its Homeland Security Task Force.

  Even before she came to Beaumont, Mayor Lord was a committed public 
servant wherever Sam's career opportunities led them. She was elected 
as a State Senator in the State of Delaware and served as an 
Administrative Assistant to a County Judge in Kentucky. In Beaumont, 
she served with distinction in many capacities, including Vice 
President of Texas Commerce Bank and as Chairwoman of the Texas State 
Spindletop Centennial Commission.
  Finally, few charitable organizations in Beaumont have escaped Mayor 
Lord's helping hand, highlighted by her work at the United Way, Texas 
Energy Museum, Boy Scouts, Julie Rogers ``Gift of Life'' Program, 
Chamber of Commerce, and Community Partners for Children.
  Mayor Lord's leadership at Beaumont City Hall will always be 
remembered and her accomplishments will be felt throughout the 
community for years to come. Nonetheless, I am confident that she will 
not disappear from public life entirely and I join all of those in 
Texas' Second Congressional District in wishing her and Sam the best as 
they enter this exciting new phase of their lives.
  As Margaret Thatcher once said, ``Success is having a flair for the 
thing that you are doing; knowing that is not enough, that you have got 
to have hard work and a sense of purpose.'' Mayor Lord . . . she has 
that, Mr. Speaker.

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