[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H10562-H10563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CLYDE HICHBORN POST OFFICE

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2174) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 18 Main Street in Howland, Maine, as the ``Clyde 
Hichborn Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2174

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CLYDE HICHBORN POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 18 Main Street in Howland, Maine, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Clyde Hichborn Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Clyde Hichborn Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present H.R. 2174 for consideration.
  This measure will designate the United States Postal Service facility 
located at 18 Main Street in Howland, Maine, as the ``Clyde Hichborn 
Post Office''.
  Introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Michael Michaud 
of Maine, on April 29, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee on May 6, 2009, by unanimous consent, H.R. 
2174 enjoys the support of the entire Maine House delegation.
  Born on August 29, 1920, Clyde Hichborn dedicated over 60 years of 
his life to public service. A distinguished veteran of the United 
States Army, Mr. Hichborn served during World War II, including a 2-
year tour in the European theater as captain in the Adjutant General 
Corps.
  Additionally, after receiving his bachelor's degree in education and 
a master's degree in school administration, Mr. Hichborn served his 
local community in the town of Howland as a long-time superintendent of 
schools. Notably, the Hichborn Middle School in Howland was named in 
his honor for his admirable service in the field of education.
  Mr. Hichborn's dedication to his local community also included 
service as a town selectman, a town manager, and subsequently, a State 
legislator. Specifically, Mr. Hichborn's tenure in the Maine State 
Legislature included eight terms in the Maine House of Representatives, 
one term in the Maine State Senate, and service on the joint standing 
committees on education, transportation, appropriations, economic 
development, and State and local government.
  Mr. Hichborn's legislative efforts in the Maine State House reflected 
his prior experience as an educator and town official. Mr. Hichborn 
focused his attention on school funding and improvements as well as 
enhancing the local business environment.
  In addition to his distinguished career in public service, Mr. 
Hichborn is also fondly remembered for his love of adventure and his 
willingness to confront any challenge. In 1980, Mr. Hichborn embarked 
on a 7-hour climb to the top of Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in the 
State of Maine, on his 80th birthday.
  Regrettably, Mr. Hichborn passed away on March 31, 2005, at the age 
of 94.
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor this outstanding public servant through the 
passage of this bill, which designates the Howland Post Office in honor 
of Clyde Hichborn. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting 
H.R. 2174.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I just simply want to rise in support of H.R. 2174, a bill to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
18 Main Street in Howland, Maine, as the ``Clyde Hichborn Post 
Office''. He's a great American and a great public servant.
  I rise in support of H.R. 2174, a bill to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 18 Main Street in Howland, 
Maine, as the `Clyde Hichborn Post Office'.
  A life long resident of Medford, Maine, Clyde Hichborn served his 
state and country

[[Page H10563]]

throughout his life. Mr. Hichborn received a bachelor's degree in 
education from the University of Maine Farmington in 1933 and a 
master's degree in school administration.
  In 1942, he joined the army as a private and served in World War II. 
He rose to the rank of Captain in the Adjutant General's Corps when he 
left the Army in 1946.
  After returning from war, he taught for many years, was principal and 
ultimately went on to serve as Superintendent of Schools. In 
recognition of their service to the community, the Howland Middle 
School was named for Clyde and and his wife, Winona Hichborn in 1971.
  In addition to serving more than 60 years as an educator, Mr. 
Hichborn continued to serve his community in a number of ways including 
as a town selectman, town manager and state legislator. He served a 
total of 18 years in the Maine state legislature, serving in both the 
House and Senate. When he retired at the age of 86, he was the oldest 
member of the house and one of its longest-serving veterans. Mr. 
Hichborn was also an avid hiker, climbing Mount Katahdin, the highest 
mountain in Maine, several times.
  Most notable though was the seven-hour trek up the 5,267 foot 
mountain on his 80th birthday. ``I just wanted something to do,'' he 
said. ``I didn't want to sit in a rocking chair all summer.'' Mr. 
Hichborn's accomplishment even won him accolades from the director of 
Baxter State Park, where Mount Katahdin, is located, noting that 
``there is no easy trail up Katahdin.''
  Sadly, Mr. Hichborn's life ended on March 31, 2005 at the age of 94. 
He was best described after his death by the Governor of Maine, John 
Baldacci, ``Clyde was an extraordinarily caring and gentle man. He was 
a tireless advocate for the people and the region he served for so many 
years.''
  In recognition of Mr. Hichborn's contributions to the country and the 
state of Maine, let us recognize his many years of public service by 
naming the post office in Howland, Maine as the ``Clyde Hichborn Post 
Office.''
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I would like to yield 5 
minutes to the lead sponsor of this bill, Mr. Mike Michaud of Maine who 
is also, as we have seen earlier today, a very powerful and able member 
of our Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. MICHAUD. I want to thank my distinguished colleague from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) for allowing me to say a few words today.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 2174 to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 18 Main Street in Howland 
as the ``Clyde Hichborn Post Office.''
  As a veteran, an educator, a public servant, Clyde Hichborn lived a 
life fiercely dedicated to his community, his State, and his country. 
He worked in the field of education for 35 years interrupted only by 
his service in World War II. The Hichborn Middle School in Howland was 
named after him and his wife.
  Clyde served 8 years in the Maine State House and one term in the 
State senate. His legacy for those years can be summed up for the kind 
of elected official he saw himself as. I would like to quote one of his 
statements: ``I am not a politician,'' he said. ``I am constituent-
oriented and issue-oriented. My constituents don't care what party I am 
from.''
  I believe such a statement is the standard that we all should aspire 
to.
  Clyde was a very dedicated individual. He cared about his 
constituents; he cared about his country. No matter where you go 
throughout the State of Maine, whether Republican, Democrat, 
Independent, Green Party, when people talk about Clyde Hichborn, they 
have nothing but kind things to say about him. And in the Howland 
region no matter where you went, what restaurant, what store, you 
always would run into someone who had Clyde as a teacher in high 
school. They have nothing but kindness to say. He was a very dedicated 
individual.
  I am very glad to see that the House is taking appropriate steps to 
honor such an extraordinary man. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, Clyde Hichborn was a great American and 
great public servant. I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of our time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again urge my colleagues to 
join with me, Mr. Chaffetz, and the lead sponsor of this resolution, 
Mr. Michaud of Maine, in honoring Clyde Hichborn through the passage of 
H.R. 2174.
  I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2174.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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