[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27274]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 27274]]

                         HONORING EULAH LAUCKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 27, 1999

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues an extraordinary woman, who was honored by family and 
friends on October 22nd as she celebrated her 90th birthday in Santa 
Barbara, California.
  Eulah Laucks has become a good friend and mentor to me, and I want to 
mention just a few of her many accomplishments. Eulah was born on 
October 23, 1909 in Goldhill, Nevada. After completing high school, she 
worked for six years at a Tuberculosis Sanitorium to pay for her own 
college education. Her hard work paid off and in 1933 she began her 
studies in journalism at the University of Washington. Eulah had a very 
successful college career and in 1936, during her last year in school, 
she traveled to Italy to study. Eulah soon became fascinated with the 
people and the turbulent changes in government that were taking place 
in Europe.
  In 1942, Eulah married Irving Laucks, whom she met while working in 
the public relations department of the chemical analysis lab he owned 
in Seattle. In 1964 the Laucks moved to Santa Barbara. Irving soon 
began work as a consultant for the Santa Barbara Center for the Study 
of Democratic Institutions. When Irving left the Center, Eulah 
continued this important work, where she served on the board in 1966 
with my husband, Walter Capps. Eulah's passion for knowledge and 
commitment to learning did not end in college or with her work at UCSB. 
In 1979 at the age of 70, she earned a Ph.D. in Family Studies. Her 
research culminated in a book, ``The Meaning of Children in 
Contemporary America,'' which she published shortly after receiving her 
degree. In 1996, Eulah completed another book about her childhood 
memories in Nevada mining country.
  Mr. Speaker, as impressive as any complete accounting of Eulah's life 
would be, it would not do justice to the long lasting and immeasurable 
contributions she has made in Santa Barbara. I find myself to be 
exceptionally fortunate to be a friend of Eulah Laucks. She is an 
incredibly progressive, strong willed, and independent person. Eulah 
was also very close to my husband, Walter Capps. I know that they often 
encouraged and supported one another in their faith and commitment to 
others. He valued her insight and wisdom immensely.
  Eulah Laucks will continue to commit much of her energy to the values 
and ideals that she loves--the well-being of children, education for 
all, world peace, and protecting our environment. I am truly honored to 
represent Eulah Laucks in Washington and to incorporate her ideals in 
my work as a citizen representative.

                          ____________________