[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE LATE EUGENE AMOS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 2009

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today pay tribute former 
Kansas State Representative Eugene ``Gene'' Amos, who died on July 
24th.
  Gene Amos, the owner of the Amos Funeral Home, served in the Kansas 
House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993, representing a district 
that was centered on the city of Shawnee. Earlier this year, he 
received the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award 
for advancing the interests of Shawnee, which bears the imprint of his 
``good deeds, kind words and solid values'', the Chamber stated. Born 
in Liberal, Kansas, he moved to Shawnee with his family in 1945, 
attended Shawnee Mission Rural High School and graduated from Kansas 
City Missouri Junior College and the Kansas City College of Mortuary 
Science. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he 
married Margaret Zoll in 1953 and joined his father's funeral business.
  In addition to serving as president of the Kansas Funeral Directors 
Association and president of the State Board of Embalmers, Gene was an 
active member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, the Shawnee 
Historical Society, the Shawnee Optimist Club, and Optimist 
International, where he served as president and district governor. He 
was a member of Merriam Christian Church, serving as a deacon, elder 
and chairman of the board. Additionally, he served as president and 
member of the Delaware Crossing Chapter of the Sons of the American 
Revolution. He often spoke to groups on the history of Shawnee, 
politics, the funeral business and family research, and he taught 
genealogy at Johnson County Community College. In 2007, he was named 
Shawnee Citizen of the Year by the Knights of Columbus Council 2332. He 
also was a charter member of the Ancient Form Masonic Lodge, and was a 
member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Abdallah Shrine, Beatrice Chamber, and 
Order of the Eastern Star.
  As a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Gene served on 
the education, public health and agriculture committees. According to 
the Kansas City Star, when the Kansas Legislature approved a resolution 
earlier this year recognizing Amos, lawmakers recalled his humor: ``One 
legislator told how Amos would pass out business cards to fellow 
committee members who he said appeared lifeless. He once took the pulse 
of a sleeping legislator and said he was looking for a new client. Then 
the mood in the legislative chamber that day turned more somber, 
according to a transcript of the proceedings. Frank Weimer, who served 
with Amos as a state representative, spoke of Amos' honor, generosity 
and integrity. `There isn't a man on this earth I respect more than 
Gene Amos,' Weimer said.''
  Madam Speaker, Gene Amos is survived by: his wife, Margaret; son, 
Gregg Amos; daughters, Joni Pflumm and Amy Ruo (John); sister, Paula 
Ramona Upton; six grandchildren and one great grandson. I have known 
Gene for many years and considered him a good friend. I join his many 
friends, neighbors and professional colleagues in celebrating his life 
and mourning our loss.

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