[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE BIRTHDAY OF OSLER ARDELL MOORE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of Alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 18, 2025

  MR. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
birthday of Osler Ardell Moore. Mr. Moore will turn 99 on February 19, 
2025.
  Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Moore, and his second wife 
Billie, have been residents at Autumn Cove Assisted Living in Anniston, 
Alabama, for nearly two years. They moved to Anniston to be closer to a 
daughter and son-in-law, Rev. Les and Dani Jones, who live in Heflin. 
Before Mr. Moore celebrates his birthday, he and Billie will celebrate 
their 12th wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day. The couple 
originally met when they were college students in Birmingham. Mr. Moore 
was studying to be a pharmacist and while Mrs. Moore was a Bible and 
religious education major, she worked in the pharmacy school.
  Following the death of his first spouse, Mary Nell, Mr. Moore 
returned to Birmingham. In the alumni office of Samford University, he 
found a yearbook that covered his time as a student. He saw and 
recognized Billie's photo. He learned Billie had also lost her spouse, 
Rev. Dan Small. Months later, Osler and Billie found themselves in a 
Kroger supermarket with the manager who officiated their wedding, in 
the pharmacy on Valentine's Day.
  Until retirement, Mr. Moore's life was focused on being in or around 
a pharmacy. As a young boy, he worked at Mr. Willis' drug store as a 
delivery boy. He left high school in the tenth grade. The day before 
his 18th birthday, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After boot camp, Mr. 
Moore became a Navy Pharmacist Mate. San Diego was his initial duty 
station. He was selected to spend the balance of the war on Clemente 
Island. After the war ended, Mr. Moore was sent to New Orleans. He was 
Honorably Discharged June 14, 1946. He earned the Navy Good Conduct 
Medal and the WWII Victory Medal--American Area.
  Mr. Moore returned to Jackson after his discharge. His brother John, 
a pharmacist and a Navy Veteran, hired him to work in the drug store. 
John was a licensed pharmacist and Osler wanted to be a licensed 
assistant pharmacist. Osler went to school and got his GED. With his GI 
Bill in hand, Mr. Moore attended Mississippi College, then subsequently 
transferred to the Pharmacy School at Howard College in Birmingham. Mr. 
Moore, who dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and was 
initially turned away as a college student, was one of the five first 
Honor Society students at Howard. Before he graduated from Howard, as a 
Navy reservist, was recalled for military duty during the Korean War. 
With his second Honorable Discharge and the completion of his pharmacy 
degree, Mr. Moore returned to Jackson and opened Southwest Drug. Later, 
in a business partnership with his older brother John, Mr. Moore opened 
a series of stores named Southwest Drug Stores of Mississippi in 
Jackson, Hattiesburg and Laurel.
  Mr Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Moore on his 99th 
birthday and thanking him for his service to our country.

                          ____________________