[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.

                          ____________________