[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 98 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6596-H6597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CLEM ROGERS McSPADDEN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2127) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 408 West 6th Street in Chelsea, 
Oklahoma, as the ``Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2127

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

     SECTION 1. CLEM ROGERS MCSPADDEN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 408 West 6th Street in Chelsea, Oklahoma, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Clem Rogers McSpadden 
     Post Office Building''.
       (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 ``Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office 
     Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 2127.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the author of this bill, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Boren).
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2127. This 
bill will designate the Chelsea, Oklahoma, post office as the Clem 
Rogers McSpadden United States Post Office.
  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to be the author of this bill. 
Today we have the opportunity to honor not just one of Oklahoma's 
finest individuals, but in any opinion one of America's finest. As many 
of you know, Clem McSpadden served as a Member of this body from 1973 
until 1975. His colleagues will agree that Clem was a highly respected 
Member of this Chamber. In fact, Clem was honored with being the first 
freshman Member ever to be appointed to the Rules Committee. He also 
helped create the Rural Caucus, which I am a proud member of today.
  Those are big shoes to fill for anyone, and that is why it is an 
honor for me to say I represent a portion of his former congressional 
district.
  Mr. Speaker, I am also proud to mention that Clem isn't just known as 
being a former Member of Congress. As those of us from Oklahoma know, 
Clem has readily served in all aspects of life, ranging from politics 
to family to military service to rodeo announcer. If you asked people 
in Oklahoma about Clem, you will surely be met with warm stories about 
how he helped them during his time in the State Senate, how they 
remember him introducing legendary bull rider Freckles Brown, or how he 
just gave them some good advice.
  Very few people, Mr. Speaker, would make such a great role model for 
us all. For this reason, I am proud to say I know Clem McSpadden and 
that he is a friend. More importantly, though, I am proud to say I am 
one of the many Oklahomans that he has had a positive influence on.
  Mr. Speaker, Clem is the nephew of Oklahoma's favorite son, Will 
Rogers. In keeping with the family legacy, Clem, like his uncle, is 
fully a part of the fabric that makes Oklahomans the people we are 
today. We are a people who care about our fellow Oklahomans and who pay 
their dues through hard work. Clem represents these values on a daily 
basis and has done so his whole life. This, I venture to say, also 
makes him one of Oklahoma's favorite sons. For this reason, I find it 
fitting that we honor an individual like Clem Rogers McSpadden for his 
selflessness and dedication to our State and country.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1974 my father ran for Governor and Clem McSpadden 
ran for Governor the same year; and even though they were opponents in 
the election of 1974, they were friends after that election. I am also 
proud to say that when I was a member of the State legislature in my 
first term, Clem McSpadden took me aside and mentored me as a member of 
the legislature. He is a good man and I want to thank him for being a 
mentor to so many young people. I also want to thank his wife, Donna, 
for all that she does in the community of Chelsea and the State of 
Oklahoma.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
2127.
  Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, to most residents of Rogers County, Oklahoma, and rodeo 
fanatics, the name Clem Rogers McSpadden is well recognized and much 
appreciated. Known as a ``son of Oklahoma,'' Clem Rogers McSpadden was 
born into the well-known Rogers family of which his home county is 
named. His great uncle is none other than the famous Will Rogers. But 
it is not his historical family background that we are here to speak 
about today.
  We rise to honor the achievements of Clem McSpadden during his life 
in politics, his military service, community leadership, and successful 
career in rodeo broadcasting.
  Clem McSpadden was raised on his two family ranches, Bushyhead Ranch 
near Chelsea, Oklahoma, and another in nearby Oologah. During his first 
year in Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, he left to join 
the U.S. Navy.
  He served during World War II, and upon returning completed his 
education at Oklahoma A&M with a degree in animal husbandry. While at 
college, he and some friends formed a rodeo team.
  His strong interest in roping began at an early age, and over time he 
served as general manager for the National Finals Rodeo, the Old Timers 
Rodeo and the Indian National Finals Rodeo. He has been announcing for 
over 60 years and estimates he has announced over 1,400 rodeos.
  His esteemed career in politics came in 1954 when he was elected to 
the Oklahoma State senate, where he served until 1972. He went on to 
serve in the U.S. House of Representatives one term in the 93rd 
Congress. In 1983, he formed a consulting and lobbying firm McSpadden & 
Associates, which lobbies the Oklahoma Statehouse on a variety of 
issues. His powerful presence and influence continue to drive politics 
of his beloved Oklahoma.
  Nowadays, he spends his time more quietly at home on his vast cattle 
ranch enjoying retirement with his family.

[[Page H6597]]

  I urge Members to join me, Mr. Speaker, in passing H.R. 2127 to name 
this post office for Clem Rogers McSpadden.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the 
consideration of H.R. 2127, which names a postal facility in Chelsea, 
Oklahoma, after Clem Rogers McSpadden. H.R. 2127, which was introduced 
by the gentleman from Oklahoma, Dan Boren, on May 3, 2007, was reported 
from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2007, by a voice vote. This 
measure has the support of the entire Oklahoma congressional 
delegation.
  Clem Rogers McSpadden was born on November 9, 1925, on a ranch near 
the small town of Bushyhead in Rogers County, Oklahoma. He served in 
the United States Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1946.
  He was first elected to public office in November of 1954 to the 
Oklahoma State senate. In November of 1972, he was elected to the 93rd 
Congress and served one term from 1973 to 1975. Mr. McSpadden ran for 
Governor of Oklahoma in 1974 and lost the Democratic nomination. 
Presently, Mr. McSpadden is retired and living in Chelsea, Oklahoma.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Dan Boren, for 
introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, so I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to simply close, let me again 
commend Dan Boren for his introduction of this legislation.

                              {time}  1545

  I guess Representative McSpadden was kind of a chip off the block, 
and I asked if he could also make people laugh, and Dan said that he 
could indeed, as well as do any number of other things. So he is indeed 
a tribute to the Rogers and McSpadden families. I would urge passage of 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2127.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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