[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 18 (Thursday, January 29, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MARLENE ELLIOTT BROWN

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I honor Marlene Elliott 
Brown, who was appointed in 2001 by former President George W. Bush as 
the Delaware/Maryland Director for USDA Rural Development where she 
oversaw housing, business, water and waste loan programs, community 
facilities and grant programs for my State of Delaware and neighboring 
Maryland.
  My staff and I have had the great privilege of working with her on 
rural development projects including economic development, housing and 
the provision of critical public utilities throughout rural Delaware.
  She started her remarkable career in politics in 1982 when she served 
as State director for my predecessor, Senator Bill Roth. While Senator 
Roth was known for his many accomplishments on the national level, in 
Delaware, he was best known for providing outstanding constituent 
services. No one was more responsible for building and sustaining this 
high level of service than Marlene. Striving to meet this standard has 
been one of my highest priorities as a U.S. Senator and a great 
challenge for my staff because Marlene set the bar so high. She truly 
represents the highest level of excellence in public service. More 
importantly, Marlene has the heart of a public servant which is a rare 
quality but one that is sorely needed in the world today.
  First and foremost, Marlene was a proud southern Delawarean. She grew 
up on a family farm near Laurel, DE, graduated as valedictorian of her 
class at Laurel High School, and subsequently graduated from Delaware 
Technical and Community College and Salisbury University with a major 
in business administration. In addition to her public service, she has 
been, and remains, very active in her church and community, having 
served as past president of the Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Club, 
former vice chairman of the Republican State Committee, a past Honorary 
Wing Commander at the Dover Air Force Base, a member of the Laurel 
Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Delmarva Christian High 
School, and a member of the Delaware Tech Educational Foundation 
Council.
  She has also received numerous awards, including Outstanding Young 
Women of America in 1982, Delaware Young Careerist for Delaware 
Business and Professional Women in 1985, and the first recipient of the 
William Roth Outstanding Achievement Award in 2004, just to name a few.
  I have had the great pleasure of working with Marlene Elliott Brown 
for many years and joined her frequently to announce USDA funding for 
projects throughout southern Delaware. Her hard work and dedication to 
the betterment of rural communities has helped enrich the lives of many 
Delawareans. Marlene's vibrant spirit is unwavering and her fervent 
commitment to public service reflects the desire of an individual 
devoted to making a difference. She is truly a generous and caring 
friend who has provided inspiration to many. While representing the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in Delaware and Maryland, Marlene 
somehow found time to help train not one but two people who have served 
as my county directors in Sussex County. For that, I will always be 
grateful.
  Marlene and her husband still live on a family farm near Laurel where 
she grew up, and I know that her family, community and our state are 
very proud of her accomplishments. I want to personally thank Marlene's 
family for their willingness to share her with all of us. Marlene is 
quite simply a very good person with a great heart, and I wish her well 
on the next stage of her noteworthy career.

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