[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     BILL AND AVA SIMMONS CELEBRATE THEIR 72ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID D. PHELPS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bill and Ava 
Simmons of West Frankfort, IL. On June 18th of this year, Ava and Bill 
celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. The Simmons have been 
residents of the beautiful city of West Frankfort since the early 
1900's and are long time members of the First Baptist Church in West 
Frankfort. Mr. Simmons recently retired as owner of the Stone Funeral 
Home, when he was 92 years young. His wife was a stenographer for an 
attorney from Benton and worked for the State of Illinois during the 
Depression.
  Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take the time to let all of my fellow 
Members of Congress and the nation know of this most impressive and 
momentous occasion. On the floor of this Congress we always hear 
Members describing the decline of family values and personal 
responsibility in this country; this is why I am so pleased to share 
the news of the Simmons 72nd anniversary. Their 72-year commitment to 
each other proves that there are many good and decent Americans in this 
country, who like the Simmons, are committed to their families, values, 
and their marriages. I would like to wish the Simmons a very joyful 
anniversary and a happy and healthy future.

                          ____________________