[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23726]]

                         IN MEMORY OF DR. GROFF

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding citizen of the Fourth District of Texas, the late Mayor 
Marion Allen Groff III of Pilot Point, who died on August 22. Dr. Groff 
was an active and beloved member of his community--and he will be 
dearly missed.
  At the time of his death, Dr. Groff was serving as mayor of Pilot 
Point, president of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the Kiwanis. 
He was a board member and president of DENCO 911 for 8 years. In all 
these civic endeavors, he gave his time and energy to helping make 
Pilot Point a better place in which to live.
  Allen was devoted to his family, his profession, and to his 
community, and he leaves a legacy of service that will be remembered by 
his many friends in Pilot Point. His legacy not only covers his medical 
service--though it was above and beyond--it goes to the throngs of 
friends and to many people that he never met. Allen reached out to 
anyone in need, gave advice, service, and warm friendship. He was a 
lobby for those who had no lobby. And he was capable of friendship to 
those in all walks of life--with equal love and dignity for all.
  He was born in Shattuck, OK, on August 27, 1949. He served in the 
U.S. Army from June 1971 to June 1974. He was a graduate of 
Southeastern Oklahoma University, the University of North Texas and the 
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He leaves behind his wife, 
Karen; has parents, Dr. M.A. and Betty Groff; a daughter, Kristen 
Groff; four sons, Marion Allen Groff IV, Bryant Adam Groff, John Robert 
Groff and Cole Kelly Schmitz; and a sister, Janet Sims.
  Allen was devoted to his family. Kristen will miss him every day of 
her life--as will his four sons. Karen was the love of his life, and I 
had the pleasure of visiting with Karen and Allen during the last days 
at the hospital. She waited, she served, she encouraged, and she loved 
and lived within his reach day and night for many desperate days at 
Zale Lipsey Hospital. She held her head up--and was reassuring to 
family and a throng of friends who came to Midway Baptist Church to say 
goodbye to Allen.
  Mr. Speaker, Allen was one of a kind--and we will miss him. As we 
adjourn today, let us do so in memory of Mayor Marian Allen Groff.

                          ____________________