[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H198-H199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RENAMING VA CLINIC IN HONOR OF ELWIN SHOPTEESE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of renaming the 
VA outpatient clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, after Captain Elwin ``Al'' 
Shopteese.
  Captain Shopteese was born and raised in Mayetta, Kansas, and was a 
member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Upon graduating high 
school, he enlisted in the Kansas National Guard and served as part of 
Company E, 137th Infantry Regiment.
  He deployed to Europe during World War II and fought in both the 
invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Captain Shopteese 
received the

[[Page H199]]

Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service and selfless sacrifice to 
our Nation.
  After returning to Kansas following the Korean war, Captain Shopteese 
served as a Tribal council member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 
and helped create the Indian Community Alcoholism Resources Expeditors 
Recovery Home.
  Captain Shopteese's profound legacy of service to our country and to 
the Native American community will live on for generations to come. I 
am proud to join my fellow Kansans in introducing legislation to rename 
the clinic after this American hero and a member of the Greatest 
Generation.


                     Honoring the Life of Ken Brock

  Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
memory of Ken Brock, a dear friend of mine and a pillar in the 
southeast Kansas community.
  Ken graduated from Fort Scott High School and served in the Kansas 
Army National Guard before founding Names and Numbers, a business that 
published easy-to-use local phone books. Ken grew Names and Numbers 
with his wife, Debbie, into one of the leading independent directory 
companies in the country.
  In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and major job creator, 
Ken was passionate about strengthening our communities and bringing new 
economic development to the region. He served as the chairman of the 
Highway 69 Association and successfully led the charge to expand 
Highway 69 to a four-lane route from Kansas City to Pittsburg. Ken was 
also active on the Pittsburg State University campus, serving on 
numerous boards and advisory committees.
  Growing up in southeast Kansas, I know firsthand the profound impact 
Ken had on our region. Ken was a joyful person, a dedicated person, 
always putting his family, community, and country ahead of himself. He 
is someone you would have wanted on your side, and I was glad that he 
was on mine.
  It has been an honor to get to know him and his family over the 
years, and I am grateful for all that he has done. Ken Brock passed 
away this past December, but his legacy of faith, family, and community 
will not be forgotten.


              Celebrating the Life of Senator Bob Marshall

  Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
memory of State Senator Bob Marshall, who passed away this past 
September.
  Bob Marshall attended the University of Kansas, where he became a 
four-sport letterman and played basketball alongside the legendary Wilt 
Chamberlain. He was a tremendous athlete and a tremendous competitor, 
something I learned firsthand.
  Upon graduating KU, Senator Marshall was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the Marine Corps and flew vital reconnaissance missions 
during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left active duty in 1965 and became 
a commercial airline pilot for the next 33 years before switching gears 
and taking on the role as athletic director at Fort Scott Community 
College.
  Bob was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2009, where he served 
on the transportation, economic development, education, and local 
government committees, securing crucial funding for universities across 
our State.
  Senator Marshall worked tirelessly to strengthen our communities and 
serve hardworking Kansas families. I am honored to have the opportunity 
to have gotten to know him. He will be greatly missed in Kansas.


              Congratulating Randy Linck on His Retirement

  Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate senior 
investigator Randy Linck on his retirement from the Brown County 
Sheriff's Office.
  Randy dedicated more than four decades to protecting Kansas families 
in the Brown County community, making him the longest serving law 
enforcement officer in county history. He started his law enforcement 
career as a reserve deputy and eventually served as deputy investigator 
and undersheriff.
  In addition to his work as a law enforcement officer, Randy was an 
EMT for the Brown County Rescue Squad and the county emergency 
preparedness coordinator.
  I am grateful for Senior Investigator Linck's 40 years of service and 
sacrifice to northeast Kansas. I wish him and his family the best in 
his well-deserved retirement.

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