[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING SHEILA LUMPE

 Mrs. McCASKILL. Madam President, I ask the Senate to join me 
today in honoring the life of Sheila Lumpe, who passed away on June 4, 
2014. Sheila was a much-loved member of the St. Louis community. Sheila 
has left a legacy of public service that will always be cherished, and 
St. Louis will not be the same without her.
  Sheila was born in Strinestown, PA and graduated from high school in 
Indiana where she had moved as a young girl. She attended Indiana 
University to study political science and met a fellow student, Gus 
Lumpe. They married and moved to St. Louis in 1965. Sheila served 17 
years in the Missouri House representing University City, a suburb of 
St. Louis. After she retired from the house, the Governor named her the 
State's chief utilities regulator and she served 6 years on the Public 
Service Commission. She was a member of the Missouri Humanities Council 
board of directors and received numerous awards and honors.
  With four children enrolled in University City schools, Sheila became 
involved in the Parent Teacher Association. In 1973, the school board 
was divided over integration and Sheila's husband Gus encouraged her to 
run for a seat on the board. Sheila won and spent 8 years on the school 
board. When her neighbor gave up his house seat to run for Lieutenant 
Governor, Sheila ran for his seat and won.
  I had the distinct honor of serving with Sheila in the Missouri 
General Assembly, where her tenure was marked by excellence and 
community involvement and where I learned important lessons about 
public leadership from her. Sheila became the first woman to lead the 
powerful House Budget Committee and nearly became the first woman 
speaker of the House.
  Sheila fought tirelessly for women's rights, equal pay and universal 
health care. She helped Planned Parenthood retain funding while in the 
legislature. Her legislation to expand health care for children passed 
the year after she left the legislature. Shelia was a role model to not 
only female legislators, but all legislators. She was regarded highly 
by everyone she interacted with, including those with very different 
views.
  Sheila retired from the Public Service Commission and public life in 
2003. She devoted herself to taking care of her husband, who passed 
away in 2009 from Alzheimer's disease. Sheila also passed away from 
Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by her three sons Abraham, Nathan 
and Andrew; daughter, Karen, and six grandchildren.
  Sheila left an indelible and permanent mark on St. Louis and will be 
fondly remembered and dearly missed. Sheila's life and commitment to 
others serves as an inspiration to me and to all Missourians. I have 
lost a friend and mentor and our State has truly lost a leader and a 
hero.
  I ask that the Senate join me in honoring the life and legacy of 
Sheila Lumpe.

                          ____________________