[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING RICK AND MARY McQUEARY

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 8, 2019

  Mr. LONG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible 
work and life of Rick and Mary McQueary.
  Rick McQueary and Mary Haseltine McQueary are a couple with a deep 
love and respect for the rich history in Springfield and Greene County. 
Each of their families arrived in Greene County in the mid to late 
1800s. Rick's family began a pharmacy business in Ash Grove, Missouri 
and later moved it to Springfield where it grew into the premier drug 
wholesaler in southwest Missouri. Mary's family was active in farming 
and had the largest apple orchards in Missouri. Others in her family, 
including her father, were interested in practicing law and were noted 
lawyers in the area. Family stories fostered a love of learning about 
the history of this community still exist for both of them today.
  Mary currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors of 
History Museum on the Square, has been an active volunteer with the 
Museum for over 19 years, and has spent the last several years 
spearheading the development and construction of the Museum's new 
facility that opened in August of 2019. She and Rick are the co-chairs 
of the capital campaign for the Museum and she has served as the 
project manager for the Museum's construction project, overseeing a 
team of industry professionals, steering the direction of museum 
content, writing copy and even picking out finishes. This project is 
one of the largest historic revitalization projects in downtown 
Springfield. The ultra-modern History Museum on the Square is projected 
to attract 30,000 visitors each year with galleries featuring the 
Birthplace of Route 66, the first Wild West shootout with Wild Bill 
Hickok, and many other stories of the unique Ozarks crossroads.
  Rick and Mary have been able to show others that historic buildings 
and local history are worth preserving. The new facility allows the 
Museum to provide additional educational and community programming for 
both children and adults. Downtown is the heart of our community and 
this museum is the perfect place to tell the rich history of 
Springfield. So much of the area's history occurred right outside the 
windows of the Museum--the Trail of Tears, Civil War encampments, the 
first quick draw shootout in the Wild West, the Butterfield-Overland 
Stage route, and Route 66. Preserving and promoting this history while 
also contributing to downtown revitalization and improved tourism is a 
gift to the entire community.
  Their love of this community is only rivaled by the great love they 
have for their alma mater Greenwood Laboratory School and surpassed by 
their love for their family. They have been married for forty-four 
years and have three children and eight grandchildren.
  Rick and Mary's willingness to serve has led them to participate in 
all parts of the community including boards of major medical 
facilities, schools, universities, civic organizations, and their 
church. They have worked tirelessly to better the community they love 
so dearly. The History Museum on the Square is proud to award them the 
inaugural William F. ``Rick'' McQueary and Mary Haseltine McQueary 
Groundbreaker Award for their years of dedicated service to the 
preservation and display of the history of Springfield and Greene 
County. This award will now be presented annually to an individual, 
family or corporation making significant contributions to the History 
Museum on the Square and its mission.
  Madam Speaker, it is clear the McQueary's have an unbelievable love 
for their community and its history and am honored to be able to 
recognize them today.

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