[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2105]]


RECOGNIZING THE LIVES OF DOROTHY AND ROBERT LABEN FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 
                           COMMUNITY SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2005

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
sadness regarding the recent passing of two leaders in the Davis, 
California community, Dorothy and Robert Laben.
  The couple met at Cornell University during the World War II years. 
Dorothy was pursuing a doctorate in nutrition and Bob taught in the 
military science department following his recovery from injuries 
sustained in battle. They courted by motorcycle and sidecar, married in 
1946 and moved first to Oklahoma and then to Missouri as Bob completed 
his doctorate in genetics. In 1950 Bob Laben accepted a professorship 
with the UC Davis Animal Science department where he spent the next 36 
years in distinguished service as a teacher and mentor.
  The Labens were active in organizations that provided much-needed 
food to the hungry, including the Short-Term Emergency Aid Committee, 
Davis Community Meals and the Food Bank of Yolo County that collects 
and distributes food to the hungry via nonprofit agencies and school 
programs. The Food Bank grew out of the Yolo County Coalition Against 
Hunger that was co-founded by Dorothy, who was known to all as ``a 
dynamo, completely dedicated.'' Together the Labens logged thousands of 
miles on their vehicles--wearing out several of them--collecting food 
from sources such as grocery stores, bakeries, farms and the Davis 
Farmers' Market. Always working together, they were once profiled in a 
local news article as ``The faces behind the food.'' The Labens' 
contributions earned them numerous awards and recognitions, but the 
couple always remained humble, redirecting the spotlight from 
themselves to the human need.
  Mr. Speaker, Dorothy and Bob Laben's determination to feed the hungry 
of their community inspires us all. It is appropriate therefore that we 
celebrate and honor their lives of service today.

                          ____________________