[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF ROBERT E. OLIPHANT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I inform 
the House of the death of Robert E. Oliphant. Mr. Oliphant, who passed 
away at the age of 88, is survived by his wife Pearl; his two daughters 
Deborah and Patti; and his two grandchildren, Justin and Emily. The 
community of Odessa and the State of Missouri will sorely miss this 
remarkable man's leadership, generosity, and congenial disposition.
  Born on June 22, 1922, in Cainsville, MO, he was raised by Glenn and 
Cordia Oliphant in Princeton, MO. After graduating high school in 1941, 
he attended Chillicothe Business College for a year before heeding the 
call to service and entering the United States Army. He began basic 
training in the spring of 1944 and was shipped off to Europe where he 
served with the 103rd Infantry Division. During the Battle of the Bulge 
in late 1944, he suffered injuries to his shoulder and arm and was 
awarded the Purple Heart.
  After recovering from his injuries, Mr. Oliphant began working for 
Clarence H. Goppert at the People's Bank in Kansas City. In 1948, Mr. 
Goppert acquired the Bank of Odessa and Mr. Oliphant was named 
executive vice president of the bank. After being promoted to president 
in the early 1960s, he became chairman of the board of the Bank of 
Odessa and remained in that position for more than 40 years. Under his 
leadership, the Bank of Odessa provided invaluable assistance to area 
churches, civic groups, and volunteer organizations. This assistance 
and Mr. Oliphant's personal philanthropy allowed these organizations to 
thrive, prosper, and serve countless individuals.
  Mr. Oliphant's leadership in the Odessa community goes far beyond his 
work at the Bank of Odessa. Selected in the first Hall of Fame class of 
the Odessa R-7 Public School Foundation, he was also a founding member 
of the Odessa Rotary Club, a longtime member of the Odessa Lions Club, 
and a lifetime member of the Odessa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. I 
have no doubt that he has touched the lives of every person in the 
Odessa community, and his legacy will remain for generations to come.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. Oliphant has served our Nation well as a dedicated 
family man, a military veteran, and a community servant. I trust my 
fellow members of the House will join me in celebrating the life of an 
American treasure, Robert E. Oliphant.

                          ____________________