[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      100 YEARS WELL SPENT--MARTIN WISENBAKER TURNS 100 YEARS OLD

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 15, 2009

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, this Saturday in Humble, TX, the 
eight children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren of 
Martin Lewis Wisenbaker are celebrating his 100th birthday. This Texan 
has played many roles in his accomplished life including athlete, 
farmer, deacon, husband, and father and he doesn't seem to be slowing 
down anytime soon.
  Martin Wisenbaker was born in Graham, TX on January 17, 1909, and by 
the age of 16 he had settled in Humble, TX. He started out working in 
the rice fields of southeast Texas until he was hired by Hughes Tool in 
1929.
  Just 4 years later Martin met the woman he would marry and spend his 
life with, Miss Wesley Belle Lee. Over the years they had eight 
children, including two sets of twins. In addition to his job at Hughes 
Tool, Martin had his own dairy farm and sold milk to local families.
  In 1944 the family joined the First Baptist Church in Humble. Martin 
would go on to be baptized in the church and even serve as a deacon 
starting in 1960. Even with all of his commitments, Martin still found 
time to pursue another passion: sports. You could find him playing 
tennis or baseball and he even won a local tennis tournament and played 
3rd base for the company baseball team.
  After 38 years with Hughes Tool, Martin retired at the age of 62. His 
retirement years were spent with the church bowling league. Over the 
years Martin added numerous bowling trophies to his tennis and baseball 
awards. After winning many times over at the Senior Olympics and a bowl 
of 200 on his 92nd birthday, Martin was forced to give up the sport 
when he was 99 years old due to knee problems.
  In July of 2008 Martin lost his wife, Wesley, just after their 74th 
anniversary. They spent their last days together in the Park Manor 
facilities in Humble, where he still resides.
  Madam Speaker, on Saturday that room will be filled with Martin 
Wisenbaker's loved ones who are no doubt celebrating the life of a 
great man who was born before the Titanic sailed, experienced the Great 
Depression, saw the first Olympic Games, lived through two world wars, 
entered the new millennium and watched as the U.S. was attacked by 
terrorists on September 11, 2001.
  I want to commend Mr. Wisenbaker on a long life of hard work and 
service to his community. Congratulations to him and his family on this 
extraordinary achievement.