[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4570-S4571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING MORRIS O'QUIN

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, today I honor the life and work of 
Morris O'Quin of Harrison, AR. Morris passed away unexpectedly on April 
19, 2009, due to a sudden respiratory illness. I know the thoughts of 
many Arkansans and others around the country are with the O'Quin 
family, especially his wife of 21 years, Dana, and their children, 
Marrick and Morgan.
  Morris devoted his life to public service and Arkansas agriculture. 
He most recently served as a Farm Service Agency--FSA--county director 
in Boone County, AR. In this capacity, he also served as a national 
board member for the National Association of Farm Service Agency State 
and County Office Employees--NASCOE--where he advocated on behalf of 
other employees and volunteers who served similar roles as public 
servants in the agricultural sector in Arkansas and throughout the 
country. He has been a lifelong advocate for agriculture.
  Since coming to the Senate in 2003, I have had the benefit of getting 
to know Morris well during his frequent trips to Washington to meet 
with other leaders of the Farm Service Agency, advancing the mission 
and purpose of the Agency. He was an ambassador for the State of 
Arkansas and a tireless advocate for the FSA, its mission, and its 
employees. He understood Arkansas agriculture and the importance of the 
Agency in supporting continued production of agricultural products. His 
duty to the Farm Service Agency and the promotion of its mission were 
his passions.
  I vividly remember working closely with Morris in 2005 to ensure that 
the Department of Agriculture did not irresponsibly move to reduce the 
essential services that the Farm Service Agency provides to farmers and 
ranchers through the county office structure. He explained to me that 
the county offices provide essential services to the farmer through 
face-to-face interactions and that shutting down multiple county 
offices without making needed technology upgrades and providing 
technical assistance for this transition would cause significant harm 
to our nation's farmers and ranchers.
  His advocacy for FSA workers and the farm community in Arkansas along 
with his leadership within NASCOE helped me pass a critical amendment 
to 2006 Agriculture appropriations bill to prevent FSA county office 
closures and further consolidations. This amendment prevented the 
administration from closing over 700 county offices nationwide and 
ensured that the critical services provided by these offices would 
continue until the USDA developed technology upgrades needed to make 
such a transition, and until the USDA clearly explained the needs and 
benefits for making such drastic reforms. This was a tremendous 
accomplishment that would not have been possible without Morris's focus 
and leadership.
  Morris understood that without the hard work and sacrifice of local 
FSA employees, many family farms would not have the resources necessary 
to make a living and provide America a safe and affordable food supply 
that we all too often take for granted. This understanding was behind 
his drive to convince me and other lawmakers of the importance of 
stopping the USDA initiative to diminish the role of FSA offices and 
employees.
  Morris's most recent accomplishment revealed his care for the 
community. After the devastating Arkansas ice storms that hit in 
January of this year, Morris spent hours working to deliver essential 
FSA services to neighbors, farmers, and ranchers in Boone County and 
other parts of northern Arkansas. The 2009 ice storm caused extreme 
damage to northern Arkansas, and Morris stepped up to provide much 
needed assistance. Under much pressure, he was doing a tremendous job 
of providing Environmental Conservation Program funds to help get 
impacted farmers back on their feet and producing again. This is just 
one other example of his exemplary work in his capacity as a public 
servant.
  While I will remember Morris for his work as a county director and a 
NASCOE advocate, I will remember him most for his kind and calm 
demeanor, his concern for the well-being of those around him, his 
tireless work on behalf of those who depended on him, and his character 
and integrity in all of his endeavors. He was a relatively quiet 
person, not a personality

[[Page S4571]]

that you get a lot of in Washington, but he was filled with pride for 
his work, the work of FSA employees, and American agriculture. He would 
always articulate the importance of these to me in the most clear, 
concise, and endearing terms. Meeting with him was always a pleasure as 
he carried a calmness about him that always reminded me of the best of 
Arkansas. Much like many Arkansans I know, he possessed a kind heart 
and a gentle spirit always putting others before him. He earned my 
enduring respect and admiration. I will remember him for his optimistic 
spirit, enjoyable personality, and humble and effective leadership.
  It is with great sadness, that I come before the Senate today, but I 
know he has gone to a better place, and deservedly so. I am honored to 
have known him and worked with him during his time on Earth. I send his 
wife Dana and their two children my deepest condolences. Morris O'Quin 
will certainly be missed, but he will never be forgotten. I ask my 
colleagues to keep the O'Quin family, Morris's coworkers, and his 
friends in your thoughts and prayers in this most difficult 
time.

                          ____________________