[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING MRS. OLA MAE McFATRIDGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 10, 2007

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I am honored to pay tribute 
to Mrs. Ola Mae McFatridge, a long-time member of the district, on the 
occasion of her 100th birthday.
  Born Ola Mae Kerr outside of Celina, TX, on September 25, 1907, she 
was raised on a farm where she learned early on the importance of 
education, family, and hard work. In 1931 she married the late Carl 
McFatridge and went on to have two children, Bill McFatridge and the 
late Martha Dobson.
  Following graduation in 1926, she taught for 5 years before marrying 
Carl. While Carl was serving as a marine in the Pacific Theatre in 
World War II, Ola Mae assumed the role of store manager of the family 
business. Though she retired from full-time work in 1994 at the age of 
87, she continues to be an active and valued member of her community. 
She is the loving and beloved matriarch of 36 descendants. Among these 
descendants are educators, ministers, law enforcement and safety 
personnel, and business professionals.
  Ola Mae's life has been marked by an unwavering dedication to family, 
education, hard work, and faith. This last century has been a 
remarkable one, and she has borne witness to it all. On behalf of her 
family, friends, and all those she continues to touch and inspire, I 
would like to take this opportunity in the House of Representatives to 
pay tribute to Mrs. Ola Mae McFatridge on this, the centennial of her 
birth.

                          ____________________