[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 119 (Monday, July 21, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1508-E1509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING T.E. BECK ON HIS 50TH YEAR SERVING CENTRAL TEXAS AT UNION 
                               STATE BANK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 21, 2008

  Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifelong 
friend of Central Texas, Thomas Elisha Beck, known as T.E. to his 
friends and family. This week, we celebrate his 50th year in banking at 
Union State Bank, where he has served the people of Texas with pride 
and integrity.
  In 1958, T.E. was first hired at Union State Bank in Florence. He 
worked just about every job possible at the bank including running the 
teller window, bookkeeping, posting and filing checks, and balancing 
the general ledger. T.E. knows the business inside and out and is 
widely respected for developing personal relationships with customers 
over the years. He is a man of his word, which is always sealed with a 
firm handshake.
  T.E. has seen Union State Bank grow from one small community bank to 
six branch operations across central Texas. Currently, T.E. is Senior 
Executive Vice President of Union State Bank and the branch manager and 
loan officer at the main branch in Florence, Texas. His hard work, 
dedication and dependability over the past 50 years, make him an 
important part of Union State Bank's current and future success. If I 
had to say what the secret of T.E.'s success all these years has been, 
I would say that it comes down to one word: respect. T.E. Beck respects 
others, and treats them accordingly. That is one of many reasons I am 
honored to call him my friend.
  T.E.'s single most important accomplishment is his love for and 
dedication to his family. As a family man, T.E. loves spending time 
with his family, especially his four grandchildren: Shanda, Bailey, 
Cade and Beau. We also rise to honor the Beck family for the supportive 
role they have played in T.E.'s life and success.
  T.E. has also devoted much of his time to his community and numerous 
causes over the years. He has been a member his entire life of the 
Youngsport Church of Christ and treasurer since 1978. In 1992, he was 
president of the Florence Chamber of Commerce and received the honor of 
the Florence Chamber of Commerce citizen of the year. Since 1993, he 
has been a board member and past president of the Central Texas 
Children's Center in Temple, Texas. He is currently on the board of 
directors and treasurer of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame 
headquartered in Belton, Texas.
  T.E. has always loved the ranching lifestyle and has continued his 
father's ambitions on the ranch. Today he raises cattle, Boer goats, 
Great Pyrenees dogs and has several roping horses. Besides being a 
rancher his entire life, T.E. has been roping since he was 17 years 
old, when he started calf roping and later began team roping. He is a 
member of the Senior Pro Rodeo Association and continues to travel all 
over Texas to rodeos with his son Steve.
  I want to personally thank T.E. for his friendship and lifetime of 
service to our community. He is an example of one person who has truly 
made a positive difference in the life of others,

[[Page E1509]]

and we would all do well to follow his example.
  T.E., thank you for your fine example and congratulations on your 
50th year at Union State Bank. We wish you all the best in the years 
ahead.

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