[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 23, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6737-H6738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING HELEN MADDOX ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY

  (Mr. BARTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTON. Mr. Speaker, it is very rare that you have a constituent 
who reaches the century mark, but I have one, a young lady named Helen 
Maddox in Arlington, Texas, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday 
later this week.
  Helen was not born a native Texan, but she got there as soon as she 
could. She and her husband moved to Arlington, Texas, over half a 
century ago, and she has lived there ever since. Her husband is now 
deceased.
  Helen has been very active in the Republican Women, in numerous civic 
clubs, and has been a very strong personal friend of mine and also a 
political supporter. She will be celebrating her 100th birthday this 
week.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I want to wish her the 
absolute very best birthday and hope that the next 100 are as happy and 
positive as her first 100 have been.
  Happy birthday, Helen Maddox, of Arlington, Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add to what I just said.


              Honoring helen maddox on her 100th birthday

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special woman on a very 
special day--her 100th birthday. Helen Maddox was born on her family's 
small family farm in Romulus, Michigan on July 28, 1914.
  She was the youngest of three and admits that while she was 
surrounded by love, life back then wasn't always easy. There was always 
a long list of chores that included taking care of the animals and 
helping with the crops.
  Helen worked at a roadside stand selling fruits and vegetables and 
says her curly hair was a great marketing tool. People would stop 
because of her cute curls, and then buy something.
  Her parents were community leaders and that is a trait that rubbed 
off on Helen.
  Like many people who weren't lucky enough to be born in Texas, she 
moved there as an adult. She immediately became involved in the small, 
but growing community of Arlington, Texas. Back then it was a town of 
just 15,000, now it is close to 400,000. Helen Maddox played a role in 
making it a big city with a small town feel.
  She started attending city council meetings so she could keep up with 
what was going on

[[Page H6738]]

and support city leaders. Helen founded the Arlington Women's Club in 
1957 and it is still going strong. She also worked with longtime Mayor 
Tom Vandergriff to organize the YMCA.
  She and her late husband loved to travel, many times hitting the road 
in their Winnebago.
  Helen slowly got more involved in Republican politics. In 1986 she 
got an invitation to have tea at the White House with Nancy Reagan.
  When Arlington became part of my district 20 years ago, Helen was one 
of the first people to welcome me. She was 80 at the time, but still 
full of life and her love of Arlington and America was infectious.
  As she hits 100 she is still active in the community. I am proud 
today to say Happy 100th Birthday to my friend--Helen Maddox!

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