[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 30 (Thursday, March 4, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DORIS THOM

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am very pleased to 
recognize the accomplishments of Doris Thom, a Wisconsinite from my 
hometown of Janesville who has blazed a trail for women's rights, and 
shown a tremendous commitment to public service, throughout her 90 
years. I have known Doris for many years, and I greatly admire the many 
contributions she has made to Janesville. She is a good friend who has 
shown outstanding leadership in her community. I am also grateful for 
the excellent work of her granddaughter Sara Thom-Agress, who worked in 
my Washington, DC, office.
  Doris's life story is one of great determination and outstanding 
achievement. Working at Gilman Engineering in Janesville during World 
War II, she received the U.S. Army and Navy ``E'' for Excellence Award 
for her work to produce emergency landing gear for fighter planes, and 
served as the first woman on the Executive Committee for Machinists 
Local 1266.
  Her life has been a series of firsts for women in Janesville, 
particularly during her years at the General Motors' Fisher Body Plant. 
There she served as the first woman committee member of United Auto 
Workers Local 95, and then the first woman to sit on the executive 
board of Local 95. She also opened doors for women at the plant when 
she filed a successful grievance after being denied a transfer from a 
traditionally female line at the plant to an all-male one. Her 
grievance resulted in all of the plant's jobs being open to women for 
the first time.
  All the while, as Doris was breaking new ground for women in 
Janesville, she was raising a family and making countless other 
contributions to her community and her state. Among many other 
activities, Doris served on the Wisconsin Governor's Commission on the 
Status of Women from 1971 to 1975.
  I am very pleased to recognize Doris's many achievements, and send 
her my warmest wishes as she celebrates her 90th birthday. I thank her 
for everything she has done for our shared hometown, and for women in 
Wisconsin and nationwide.

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