[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE DECATUR TELEPHONE COMPANY

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                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, small and family businesses are the 
backbone of America's economy. Today I want to recognize one of these 
family institutions that serve a community in Newton County, 
Mississippi. In this day of international mergers and billion dollar 
telecommunication deals, it is wonderful to see a small and stable 
company continue to provide telephone service to customers after sixty 
years in the same family. If I may, let me quote from The Newton 
Record's November 23, 2005 issue and article titled ``Decatur Telephone 
marks 60 years'' by Kenneth Billings.

       Few enterprises are fortunate enough to reach a milestone 
     one local business will celebrate next month when its owners 
     celebrate more than half a century of operating the business. 
     On Dec. 5, Bill and Louise Bailey will mark their 60th year 
     as owners of the Decatur Telephone Company and the 
     continuation of a family legacy begun in 1945.
       ``In a way it seems like any other day,'' Louise Bailey 
     said of the upcoming anniversary. ``Sometimes I can't believe 
     it has really been that long. The office has been a part of 
     home so long it is sort of an ,extension of what we do 
     everyday.''
       The Baileys purchased the company shortly after Bill 
     returned home from the military and began seeking a vocation. 
     They purchased the company and all 46 customers from Katie 
     Perkins in 1945 and began what would grow into a family 
     legacy.
       Over the years they nurtured the business and in 1976 
     earned the distinction of becoming the first telephone 
     company in the world to be completely digital. Today, Decatur 
     Telephone boasts more than 2,500 customers in the central 
     part of Newton County.
       Bill, 84, and Louise, 83, still take an active part in the 
     business, but in recent years have begun to cut back. No 
     longer is all day spent at the helm of the business as they 
     prepare to pass the reins to other family members to carry on 
     the legacy of the business.
       Although their son, Mark has gone on to a career in 
     medicine after spending summers at the company as he grew up, 
     their daughter and company Vice President Esther Smith is 
     preparing to take control when time comes for her parents to 
     fully retire. Smith said taking up the family business seemed 
     the natural thing for her to do having spent most of her life 
     inside the offices of the company.
       ``I have grown up here,'' she said. ``I remember when I 
     would walk `home' this is where I came. While momma and daddy 
     worked I went into the storeroom and played. I even one time 
     tried to memorize the entire phone book because I thought 
     that was what I had to do.
       ``Daddy was always so good to look into future. He was a 
     real visionary business person. In the world, technology 
     changes so fast and he was making advances for the company at 
     a critical time. I just hope I can continue on the path daddy 
     started.''
       The Bailey's said an all-day open house is set for Dec. 5 
     at the Decatur Telephone Company for customers and friends to 
     join with them in celebrating their anniversary with finger 
     foods and refreshments available.

  Mr. Speaker, this month marks 60 years of Bailey Family telephone 
service to Decatur, Mississippi and hope they will continue for many 
more decades to come. They make it possible for my constituents to call 
here to Washington, DC and participate in the great American 
experiment, the democratic debate of our Congress. They are able to 
call around the world and down the street. It may be technology that 
makes it possible, but it could not be done without the hard work of 
folks like Bill and Louise Bailey and their family.

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