[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF TRICIA STILES SIMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a remarkable woman 
who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Commonwealth of 
Virginia and the people of the northern Shenandoah Valley.
  With the retirement of Tricia Stiles Simpson from her position as 
Legislative Assistant to Virginia State Senator Jill Vogel, those 
attending the 2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly experienced 
a clear loss of energy, enthusiasm, honesty and intelligence that 
constitute this extraordinary human being.
  A gifted speaker and writer, Tricia has always displayed natural 
leadership skills and has been highly sought after for a variety of 
boards and commissions. Over the years, she has generously given of her 
time, energy and money to a wide variety of organizations, serving as 
chairman or vice chairman of the following: Frederick County School 
Board, to which she was elected and reelected; United Way of the 
Northern Shenandoah Valley; Frederick County Department of Social 
Services; Winchester Branch of the American Association of University 
Women; Shenandoah Valley Private Industry Council; and Tri-County VA 
Opportunities IndustriaLization Center.
  As one who has consistently lived her life out of the conviction that 
each individual has inherent dignity and worth, Tricia Stiles Simpson's 
overriding passion has been to serve and advocate for the most 
vulnerable members of our society, especially disabled children. During 
her 35 years of service to individuals with disabilities, Tricia has 
been an award-winning Special Education Teacher in Clarke County; 
Director of Rehabilitation Services for Northwestern Workshop; National 
Project Director of the National Association of Rehabilitation 
Facilities; administrator at Grafton School; and Executive Director of 
the Winchester-Frederick County Child Advocacy Center.
  In each of these positions, as well as during the 10 years she spent 
as Senator Vogel's Legislative Assistant, Tricia generously gave of her 
time and energies to those struggling with almost every challenge 
imaginable, treating each with honesty and compassion, so that they 
left her presence knowing that they had been heard and respected. Asked 
how she managed to deal so successfully with confused and troubled 
people, Simpson explained her simple three-part rule: ``Say what you 
mean and do what you say; be consistent; and love them absolutely.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in recognizing 
and thanking Tricia Stiles Simpson for her extraordinary career serving 
the people of the northern Shenandoah Valley and the Commonwealth of 
Virginia and wishing her and her husband, HB Simpson, many years of 
continued happiness in their retirement years.

                          ____________________