[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8904-H8905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO PHYLLIS CAUSEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
friend and a remarkable Kentuckian, Mrs. Phyllis Causey. In January, 
after 39 years of honorable and selfless public service, she will 
retire.
  Her Lewisburg High School yearbook in 1968 contained a prophecy for 
her, saying, ``Phyllis will be in President Nixon's Cabinet in 10 
years.'' And although President Nixon resigned while she was at basic 
training for the Army Reserve in '74 and she never did make it to the 
White House, lucky for us, she still decided to follow her passion for 
politics and public service.
  Phyllis graduated from Hopkinsville Community College in 1970 and 
received her bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University in 
1972. Upon her graduation, Phyllis worked for WKU for the following 23 
years.
  In 1995, she was hired as a field representative for Congressman Ron 
Lewis. And when I was elected to replace Congressman Lewis upon his 
retirement, Phyllis was kind enough to continue working for me.
  While traveling as a candidate for Congress, I met so many 
individuals whose first question to me was, Are you going to keep 
Phyllis if you are elected? Their question was a testament to Phyllis' 
compassion, hard work, and dedication to the individuals in the 
counties she served. She was and still is irreplaceable.
  Phyllis grew up on a farm in Logan County, where her parents taught 
her the value of hard work and the importance of giving and caring for 
others. And throughout the nearly 20 years I have known Phyllis, she 
has exemplified these values every day. She has been such an 
inspiration to me, and she has always been devoted to the causes she 
believes in--church, family, and friends.
  Phyllis is an incredible wife, daughter, sister, and mother. I know 
her

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family--especially her husband, Larry--will be happy to have her around 
more often.
  And although I will miss her, I know this is in no way a goodbye. I 
am positive she will continue to be active and touch the lives of those 
of us who have had the privilege of call her a friend.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Phyllis Causey, who 
exemplifies what it means to be an American, a Kentuckian, a Christian, 
and a public servant.

                          ____________________