[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S169-S170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SCOTT MAGUIRE
Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, when we have a new administration, lots
of changes take place--changes in offices, changes in committee
assignments--but for all of us here in the Senate, perhaps the most
challenging change is when members of our team decide to open new
chapters in their lives. We celebrate those new chapters and wish them
well, but we will also miss them greatly.
I come to the floor to talk about three of my team members who are
headed to a new chapter in each of their lives.
Scott Maguire has been a central part of our team since day one. He
is my good friend, a valued team member who is preparing a new chapter
in his life in the form of a well-deserved retirement.
As of yesterday, January 26, he completed 12 years on our U.S. Senate
team as our State operations director. The Boy Scouts of America that
have a motto: ``Be prepared.'' They also have a slogan: ``Do a good
turn daily.'' These are attributes that I always have held dear, and
they are qualities I looked for when setting out to build a team to
serve the people of Oregon when I was elected to the Senate in 2008.
Scott was at the top of my list because I knew that these were
qualities that define who he is. I knew this because I have known Scott
for a very long time. We met through Boy Scout Troop 634 back when we
were 11 or 12 years old. We recognized and respected each other's
leadership skills, and I admired Scott's growth in character and
capabilities as he advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout.
When we were 15, Scott and I were dissatisfied with how the district
council was running their annual First Aid Meets, so we proposed to the
council executive that we take over and run the weekend event. To our
surprise, the staff of the council agreed.
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I think the resulting weekend event, which included dozens of troops,
hundreds of Scouts, was a tremendous success. It was the type of mutual
project that has bonded us over our lifetimes.
Scott did many things in his career before joining my team. He served
as operations director of the Northwest Christian Evangelistic
Association; as executive director of the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing
Foundation; as a reporter and editor of the Gresham Outlook.
He got involved in many volunteer roles, including with the Gresham
Breakfast Lions Club, the Gresham Early Risers Kiwanis Club, and he has
volunteered millions of hours just so much to serve the Civil Air
Patrol and is now a lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.
Looking back to 2009, I can't imagine how we would have gotten our
Oregon team off the ground or built the operation we have today without
Scott Maguire.
Over the years, he has kept the computers computing and the supplies
supplied, but he has done so much more. He pioneered and built our
Oregon internship program, which has been a pipeline for hundreds of
Oregonians who have been going on to do great things serving in State
and national government, in community organizations, and in business to
make that intern program the best possible.
Scott cultivated strong relationships with Oregon's colleges, and he
could work with them. He was always on the search to give young
Oregonians with a passion for public service the opportunity for public
service. He cared deeply about their experience and success throughout
their time in our office but in the time beyond as well.
Scott stepped in to serve as my field representative for a number of
Oregon counties, organizing the townhalls they hold in those counties
every year to hear from our constituents. He has not only helped to
plan in organizing these events but saved them from going off the rails
as unexpected challenges arose.
Back in 2017, when we were debating the future of the Affordable Care
Act, we knew that citizens were passionate and angry, so we anticipated
a large turnout, planning for 1,000 attendees--twice what was ever seen
before. And imagine our shock when 4,000 Oregonians showed up.
Constituents were packed in like sardines. Hundreds crowded into a
courtyard outside watching through the windows, but there was Scott
swooping in to save the day.
He reworked the sound system. He opened the windows. He figured out
how to put speakers outside the windows so everyone could hear and
participate. Crisis averted. That was just another day for Scott,
working behind the scenes and taking care of things that most people
don't even know were going wrong to ensure things were running
smoothly.
Last year, before the pandemic shut down so much of our lives and our
offices went remote, we saw massive shortages on essentials like hand
sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and tissues. But Scott, seeing the
crisis developing, raced around the metro area to gather supplies to
keep the members of our team healthy and safe. That is who Scott
Maguire is: the kind of person who goes above and beyond for everyone
in every situation; the kind of person who is prepared and always goes
out of his way to do a good turn daily for others; the kind of person
who, regardless of who you are, treats you like a VIP.
I speak for all members of Team Merkley, for all the interns who have
come through our office, for all the folks Scott has worked with over
the years, when I say that he will be deeply missed, and it will not be
the same without him.
We wish our dear friend Scott Maguire and his wonderful wife Beth all
the best as they begin a new chapter of their lives together.
I picture Scott, who has had a business, Shorty's BBQ, catering
barbecue, Texas style, during his years in Oregon--you will probably
see him firing that grill up a lot more often in the years ahead. It
will be a chapter undoubtedly filled with loving friends, family, great
traveling adventures, and, of course, as much barbecue as they can
possibly handle.
We will miss you, Scott Maguire.
____________________