[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING CLEO ZENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2009

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Cleo Estelle 
King Zent of Petaluma, California, for an unusual accomplishment. Cleo 
just celebrated her 100th birthday, an event few people have the 
opportunity to enjoy.
  There is no one secret to Cleo's longevity. Cleo maintains that 
genetics and a healthy lifestyle have kept her spry. She always avoided 
alcohol and tobacco use and, since she never drove, she got her 
exercise by walking everywhere. Cleo's positive outlook has also 
allowed her to experience ten fulfilling decades of life.
  Cleo, daughter of Hugh and Laura Walker King, was born in Floyd, New 
Mexico on April 9, 1909. Her father was a leading citizen who 
championed education and promoted school issues among voters.
  In 1927, Hugh and Laura King moved the family to Rio Vista, 
California where Hugh and his sons worked for Speckels Sugar Company 
until moving to Lodi, California three years later.
  Following Prohibition, Cleo worked as a waitress in a local coffee 
shop where local winemakers gathered for breakfast and conversations. 
Cesar Mondavi and August Sebastiani were among Cleo's customers.
  On May 2, 1942, Cleo married Claude R. Zent. The couple spent most of 
the World War II years in Alameda, where Claude worked as an electrical 
engineer at the Naval Air Station. Their first son, William R. Zent, 
was born in 1945, followed by the birth of Jack Zent in 1948.
  After the War, the Zent family moved to a 12-acre plot of land just 
outside the city of Petaluma and Claude transferred his employment to 
the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo.
  For the next twenty years, Cleo and her family spent their time 
building and improving their homestead. According to Cleo, for years 
their house looked like they were just moving in or just moving out. 
When Cleo's dreams for her home were almost realized in 1966, Claude 
died of a brain hemorrhage. Cleo remained on the family's property 
walking to and from the grocery store, mowing the lawn and maintaining 
her home until she was in her 90s.
  Today, Cleo lives in the Golden Living Care Home in Petaluma and she 
shares her life with her sons and her four grandchildren, Caryn 
Estelle, Kevin, Christy and Christopher Zent.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to honor Cleo Zent whose experience is a 
testament to the fact that a healthy lifestyle and optimistic outlook 
can lead to a long and fulfilling life. Happy Birthday, Cleo!

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