[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8662-H8663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AVA GARDNER POST OFFICE

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3439) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 201 North 3rd Street in Smithfield, North Carolina, 
as the ``Ava Gardner Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3439

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AVA GARDNER POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 201 North 3rd Street in Smithfield, North 
     Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``Ava Gardner 
     Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Ava Gardner Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3439.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3439, authored by the distinguished 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).
  This bill would designate the Post Office in Smithfield, North 
Carolina, as the ``Ava Gardner Post Office Building.'' All Members of 
the North Carolina delegation have cosponsored this legislation.
  The life of Ava Gardner is a true rags-to-riches story that started 
on a tobacco farm in the rural south. Born and raised in Johnston 
County, North Carolina, Ava Gardner had planned on becoming a secretary 
in her adult life. However, at the age of 18, a scout from MGM Studios 
offered her a 7-year contract from seeing a photo of her in the window 
of her brother-in-law's New York photograph shop. Having no acting an 
experience at all, Ava had to settle for scripts containing little 
better than one-line bits.
  In 1946, she landed her first starring role in the B-grade movie, 
Whistle Stop. Later that year, on loan from MGM, Universal Studios cast 
her in her breakout hit, The Killers. Her career as a leading lady then 
took off in such films as Magambo opposite Clark Gable, The Barefoot 
Contessa and Night of the Iguana, all between the years of 1953 and 
1964.
  Ava Gardner, the earthy girl from North Carolina, had beaten the odds 
to become one of Hollywood's most famous icons. Today, anyone can view 
the personal effects and career artifacts of Ava's extraordinary life 
at the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina. The museum 
enables both young and old to experience the history of classic cinema. 
I urge all Members to join me in saluting her dedication and 
perseverance towards her unlikely but spectacularly successful career.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, 
I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3439, 
legislation naming a postal facility in Smithfield, North Carolina, 
after Ava Gardner, an illustrious actress often remembered as the most 
beautiful in Hollywood history. This measure, which was introduced by 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) on July 26, 2005, and 
unanimously reported by our committee on September 15, 2005, enjoys the 
support and cosponsorship of the entire North Carolina delegation.
  Ava Lavinia Gardner was born in the small town of Grabtown, North 
Carolina, as the youngest of seven children. Ava Gardner's film career 
began at the age of 18 when an MGM agent saw her photograph in the 
window of her brother-in-law's New York City photograph studio. Her 
prolific film career includes roles in Mogambo (1953), for which she 
was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress; The Barefoot 
Contessa (1954); The Sun Also Rises (1957); On the Beach, (1959); The 
Night of the Iguana (1964), for which she was nominated for an Academy 
Award for Best Supporting Actress; and Regina Roma (1982).
  Ava Gardner was married to three legendary Hollywood actors, 
including Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra. She died in 
London on January 25, 1990, of pneumonia at the age of 67 and was 
buried in Smithfield, North Carolina, in the Gardner family plot near 
the Ava Gardner Museum.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for speaking to honor Ava 
Gardner, who rose from humble roots to become one of the most famous 
actresses in film history.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I would just like to thank my colleague 
from Illinois for his help on all of these resolutions. He is always 
such a gentleman, so dignified. I have sometimes said that east 
Tennessee, where I am from, is the only part the whole country where 
the people speak with absolutely no accent whatsoever, but I do have to 
admit that the gentleman from Illinois has a beautiful voice, and it is 
always a pleasure to work with him.
  Madam Speaker, with that, I urge all Members to support the passage 
of H.R. 3439.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 3439, legislation to name the main post office in 
Smithfield, North Carolina, in honor of Ava Gardner.
  I am proud to be sponsor of this legislation not only because Ava 
Gardner is a native of our great State, but because growing up in 
Johnston County I was always aware of her accomplishments and of the 
lives she touched around the world.

[[Page H8663]]

  Ava Gardner lived the American Dream but never forgot her humble 
beginnings in Johnston County, her high school days at Rock Ridge or 
her days at Atlantic Christian College. Ava Gardner's career spanned 
five decades, and she was America's sweetheart during Hollywood's 
Golden Age.
  This small town girl was a big time celebrity. In fact, she was the 
first woman from North Carolina to grace the cover of Time Magazine. 
She was also a patriot who performed for our servicemen and a tireless 
leader in the fight against cancer.
  Ava represents the can-do attitude and patriotism embodied by the 
people of Smithfield and Johnston County. At the request of the Mayor 
and Town Council of Smithfield, I was pleased to introduce this 
legislation in July and work for its passage.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3439 and honor a famous North 
Carolinian.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3439.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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