[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6772-S6773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. GENE SIMON

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a man for 
whom I have great respect: Dr. Gene Simon.
  Tomorrow, June 30, Dr. Simon will retire after 31 years of 
exceptional service as chief executive officer of Chaddock, a 
nationally acclaimed, faith-based, child welfare agency in Quincy, IL.
  In the New Testament, James, the disciple of Jesus, tells us, 
``Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one 
of you says to him, `Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but 
does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same 
way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.''
  Gene Simon has taken that Bible lesson to heart his whole life. He 
has taken action. For more than 30 years, he has provided a home and 
food and clothing for children who might otherwise have had nowhere to 
turn.
  Chaddock serves more than 6,500 people a year--children and families. 
Many of the young people Chaddock helps are at-risk. Some have endured 
serious abuse or neglect. Chaddock provides outpatient and residential 
treatment and the help young people and their families need to heal.

[[Page S6773]]

  Chaddock was founded in 1853 as a college. Over the years, it has 
been a boys school and a treatment center for at-risk young people. It 
opened its doors to girls in 1982.
  Chaddock is proud of its history, but it is not bound by that 
history.
  One of the hallmarks of Gene Simon's leadership is his commitment to 
continual learning and innovation. You can see that at Chaddock.
  Chaddock's school and treatment programs are national models for 
dealing with changing emotional and behavioral needs of children and 
their families. Chaddock offers a residential treatment program for 
adolescents with severe trauma and attachment disorders--one of only a 
handful of such centers in America.
  Chaddock also has an outstanding program that works with families who 
have adopted children, helping the children and their new families to 
develop strong, loving bonds. I understand that this program has helped 
families from more than 20 States.
  In recent years, Chaddock has risen to meet another critical need: 
helping children and adolescents move from foster care to adoption.
  Gene Simon was born and raised on a family farm in Farmersville, IL. 
His parents, Eldon and Beryl Simon, owned a grain and livestock farm.
  Dr. Simon holds a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from 
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, a master's degree in human 
development counseling from the University of Illinois-Springfield, a 
master's of divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological 
Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and a doctoral 
degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
  From 1959-1971, he served as a United Methodist minister in the 
Illinois communities of Iroquois, Pontiac, Moweaqua, and Decatur.
  With the importance Gene Simon places on family, it should come as no 
surprise that he is deeply committed to his own family, including his 
wife Peggy, who has been a constant partner in his work at Chaddock. 
Gene and Peggy Simon take great pride in their two sons, Chris and 
Paul, and four grandchildren.
  The outstanding work of Gene Simon and the Chaddock staff has brought 
the agency much praise and many awards.
  In 2001, the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare 
Ministries honored Dr. Simon as one of the association's Administrators 
of the Year. And this year, the United Methodist Association named 
Chaddock its Organization of the Year--so Dr. Simon is going out on a 
high note.
  But the testimonials that mean the most to Gene Simon are not from 
professional committees; they are from the young men and women who have 
found new hope at Chaddock.
  I would like to close with a quote from one of those testimonials--
from a former student of Chaddock. ``Gene Simon and this Chaddock 
family were here for me when I needed them most. The lessons I learned 
at Chaddock, such as dealing with emotions and just the everyday needs 
for love, care, and concern for myself and others, have helped me to 
become me . . . a good husband, father, employee, and a great friend to 
many.''
  Imagine thousands of similar testimonials and you begin to see the 
tremendous amount of good he has done and the positive difference he 
has made in the lives of so many young people and families who have 
walked through the doors at Chaddock over the years.
  On a personal note, Gene has been a source of friendship and 
inspiration to me for many years. He has helped me understand the 
reality of the human condition and he has reminded me never to give up 
on a person in need.
  I wish Gene Simon well in his retirement, and I know that the 
difference his life has made will continue to be felt by the many 
people he has helped

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