[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 114 (Monday, July 9, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4837-S4838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO BARBARA PROFFITT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I am proud to recognize a 
remarkable woman who has been a constant presence in Hardin County for 
many years. Barbara Proffitt has meant so much to this community, and 
as she begins her long-awaited retirement, I would like to thank her 
for her decades of care and support.
  For 30 years, Barbara represented Hardin Memorial Hospital as its 
community/guest relations coordinator. In her own description, she 
helps ``get the word out about the hospital,'' but for someone like 
Barbara, that meant a lot more than sitting behind a desk sending 
emails. Throughout Elizabethtown and the surrounding area, Barbara 
seemed to be everywhere, attending community meetings, special 
functions, and even driving the health group's car during parades.
  Beyond her work at the hospital, Barbara supported her community and 
her neighbors in so many ways. Although she hasn't had a child 
attending North Hardin High School since the late 1970s, Barbara 
proudly continues to be the ``team mom'' of the boys' basketball team. 
Usually carrying bags of candy to share, she rarely misses a game and 
always seems to have a hug ready for every player, manager, and coach.
  The close proximity between Barbara's home in Vine Grove to the U.S. 
Army installation at Fort Knox inspired another form of community work. 
Crediting her father's service in World War I and the service of her 
brother and husband in Korea, Barbara has made it her personal mission 
to support our Nation's men and women in uniform stationed at Fort 
Knox. She packs boxes of food for soldiers deployed overseas who are 
serving in Fort Knox's 1st Theater Sustainment Command. Barbara also 
bakes pecan pies for those at the installation, earning her the 
nickname she treasures: ``Pie Lady.'' Having tasted one of her pies 
myself, I can confirm just how delicious they are. Because of her 
longstanding generosity to those at the installation, Fort Knox awarded 
Barbara and her family with its Gold Neighbor Award. In her retirement, 
she has chosen to join a new mission called ``No Vet Dies Alone,'' 
providing comfort to our Nation's heroes in their final hours.
  Barbara has also passed on her love of community service to her 
children,

[[Page S4838]]

Rhonda and Blake. As the current mayor of Vine Grove, Blake credits his 
mom's passion for others as what helped inspire his decision to enter 
public service.
  After her last day at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Barbara began a well-
deserved vacation. When she returns, however, no one expects her to 
slow down too much. As a local columnist wrote when he heard about her 
retirement, ``For Barbara the word retire is a word, that's it. I am 
certain we still will see her around, everywhere we seem to go.'' I 
certainly hope we will. Today I am proud to join with the people of 
Hardin County in thanking Barbara Proffitt for taking care of so many 
in her community throughout the years. I ask my Senate colleagues to 
help me wish her a wonderful retirement.
  Mr. President, the News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown recently 
published an article on Barbara's legacy of service to her community. I 
ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the News-Enterprise, May 6, 2018]

           Barbara Proffitt: One of Hardin County's True Gems

                          (By Jeff D'Alessio)

       The first time I saw Barbara Proffitt I was standing in a 
     hallway outside of the boys' basketball coaches office at 
     North Hardin High School after a game in 1988.
       I stood there, probably with a notebook and pen in hand. 
     She stood there with candy bags in her hands--Tootsie Roll 
     Pops and gum.
       She saw me and scooted closer and said, ``Are you the new 
     guy?'' I told her I was and best I can recall, now 30 years 
     later, she told me to be nice to her boys and to Ronnie--the 
     now legendary coach Ron Bevars.
       And then she asked me if I wanted a Tootsie Pop and some 
     gum.
       Then I would see her at road games and tournaments, candy 
     bags in tow, without fail, as was a hug for each player--star 
     player or bench warmer--plus the managers and coaches.
       I wondered what the deal was with this woman showing up at 
     all these games with candy. The deal was this: That's who she 
     is--kind to the core.
       She would cheer, and boo occasionally, at games and she 
     also was there to encourage and comfort. That's one of my 
     Barbara Proffitt stories.
       Here's another one or two. Those who know her, have many.
       If she likes a column I write, she calls me. If she 
     disagrees, she calls, I think she has once.
       When our third granddaughter was born on New Year's Day 
     2017, she sat in the waiting room with my wife and me for a 
     few minutes wanting to know how everything was going.
       She parted with a hug, as she so often does.
       The next day, she was there with gifts when McKenna was the 
     first baby born for the year. Again, more hugs.
       You see Barbara everywhere--dinners and parades, meetings 
     and announcements.
       She has plenty of energy for someone of any age, and for 
     someone who gives and is on the go so much.
       She has lived life at a quick pace and now it's time for 
     her to slow down as she ``retires'' from Hardin Memorial 
     Hospital after 30 years. For Barbara the word retire is a 
     word, that's it. I am certain we still will see her around, 
     everywhere we seem to go.
       It is who she is. She's a doer, not someone who stands on 
     the sideline waiting for others to pitch in. I don't think 
     she could stand to be sitting there watching others do what 
     she is capable of doing.
       When you talk about community gems in the people that make 
     Hardin County what it is, Barbara is near the top of the 
     list.
       I remember Bevars telling me once she was as much apart of 
     his highly successful program as anyone he could think of. 
     She was there for her genuine love and concern for kids and 
     coaches.
       When I heard Barbara was retiring, I have to admit, I 
     chuckled. I'm not sure how that word really applies to the 
     most involved person I know.
       Whatever it will mean to her, I hope it starts with years 
     of good health and life fulfillment.
       Aside from the Tootsie Pops, gum and hugs, there is much 
     more to learn from Barbara: Being nice and genuinely kind-
     hearted are character traits that are hard to beat.
       And you won't find many people, no matter where you go, 
     nicer than Barbara.

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