[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2] [House] [Pages 2318-2320] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]KEITH D. OGLESBY STATION Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2952) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Keith D. Oglesby Station''. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 2952 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION. The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, and known as the Orchard Park Station, shall be known and designated as the ``Keith D. Oglesby Station''. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Keith D. Oglesby Station''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry). General Leave Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2952, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nebraska? There was no objection. Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint) introduced H.R. 2952 on September 27, 1999, along with the entire South Carolina delegation as original cosponsors. The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed the legislation and has estimated that its enactment would have no significant impact on the Federal budget and would not affect direct spending or receipts. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. This bill contains no intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments. The legislation redesignates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, presently known as the Orchard Park Station, as the Keith D. Oglesby Station. Keith Oglesby was the postmaster of Greenville for 6 years. Unfortunately, sadly, tragically, he drowned last year while on vacation with his family. Among the many activities the postmaster was associated with are chairperson for the Greenville Counties Combined Federal Campaign for 5 years; postal co-chair for the Upstate Postal Customer Council and he served on the board of directors for 4 years and President for a year of Senior Action, an organization to provide and raise funds for social events for senior adults in Greenville County. Mr. Oglesby was awarded the Benjamin Award, the Postal Service's top public relations honor. He received the second award posthumously. Postal employees, his peers and customers in Greenville have requested that Mr. Oglesby be remembered in the community where he lived, worked, and served. Mr. Oglesby was known by his words, quote, ``do the right thing,'' end quote. I believe that such an honor initiated by one's own community is the right thing and I thank our colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint), for sponsoring H.R. 2952, naming a postal facility after postmaster Keith D. Oglesby, and I urge all of our colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a Member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my committee colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), in the consideration of two postal naming bills. Both bills honor a number of fine individuals who have contributed much to the improvement of their communities and States. H.R. 2952 and H.R. 3018 have met the committee's sponsorship requirement and are supported by the entire South Carolina congressional delegation. In addition to and on behalf of the ranking minority member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), for their support and assistance in the accommodation and timely consideration of these postal-naming bills. As a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to bring to my colleagues' attention H.R. 2952, legislation introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint). H.R. 2952 would designate a post office located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, as the Keith D. Oglesby Station. Mr. Oglesby was a tireless worker and community activist. As the Greenville postmaster, he took his position in the community seriously. He hosted the First-Day Issue ceremonies for the Organ & Tissue Donation Stamp, coordinated blood drives, and participated in the March of Dimes Walk America and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. He was honored posthumously with a second Benjamin Award, the Postal Service's top public relations award, given in recognition of community outreach accomplishments. I urge my colleagues to join in honoring Mr. Oglesby and to pass H.R. 2952. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint), the initiator and sponsor of this important legislation. Mr. DeMINT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) very much for managing this bill on the floor. Madam Speaker, today the House will consider a bill which is very important to my hometown and to the people of Greenville, South Carolina. H.R. 2952 renames the Orchard Park Station of the Greenville Post Office in honor of the late Postmaster Keith D. Oglesby. The tragic and unexpected death of Mr. Oglesby last summer shocked and saddened the community of Greenville. As we have grieved his loss, we have also struggled to find a way to appropriately honor Mr. Oglesby in his contribution to the post office and to the community of Greenville. [[Page 2319]] Renaming a postal facility in his honor is one way to pay tribute to this outstanding citizen and beloved boss. The dedication of Keith Oglesby to his job and to serving others has aided those in the Greenville community, as well as the State of South Carolina and the Nation as a whole. Among many other community service activities, Mr. Oglesby hosted the First Day of Issue ceremonies for the Organ & Tissue Donation Stamp. He filled Christmas stockings for the Salvation Army. He coordinated the postal blood drive. He participated in the March of Dimes Walk America and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Mr. Oglesby also supported the work of the Greenville Family Partnership, which I am on their board, and he supported our efforts to keep kids safe and drug free. He was honored by the Greenville Family Partnership as the volunteer of the year in 1997. As a supervisor, as has already been mentioned, he always told his workers to do the right thing. This motto permeated his actions and expectations to local postal customers, employees of the post office, and to higher management of the United States Postal Service. We recognize his service to our community. He was also honored, as has been mentioned already today, with two Benjamin Awards, the Postal Service's top public relations honor given to recognize community outreach accomplishments. In the word of a Greenville postal employee, renaming the facility in honor of Keith D. Oglesby is important, because, and I quote, ``Keith Oglesby, a man respected and admired by his peers, his employees and many, many postal customers, would always be remembered in a community which he proudly lived, worked and served.'' Madam Speaker, we are a success in this life when the people who know us the best love us the most. {time} 1030 We received this morning a number of pages of quotes and comments from folks who had worked for Mr. Oglesby and knew him and I will submit them for the Record at this time. The following quotes testify to the character of Keith D. Oglesby, who we seek to honor today by passing H.R. 2952, designating the Keith D. Oglesby Station. ______ As the past branch president for the local letter carriers' union, I had the honor of working with Keith Oglesby for more than five years. Keith's door was always open for any employee at any level, and when you spoke, he listened. In my 30 years with the Postal Service, Keith was, without a doubt, a man who defined dignity and respect for all employees at all levels. He walked the talk--every day--every hour--every minute that I knew him. I know I will never meet another like him, and for this, I am sad. But I'll never forget his kind, smiling face, and I'll always smile when he walks through my memories. Steven B. Gibson, US Postal Service. ____ If you close your eyes and think for a moment of the kind of person you would most like to have as a friend, a father, a brother or a neighbor, Keith will come to mind. He was fun and funny: interesting and interested; caring and carefree; warm and giving in all walks of his life. I appreciate to opportunity to have worked with Keith through the Upstate Postal Customer Council. Carolyn Thompson, Liberty Life. ____ I met Keith when I became a member of the Upstate Postal Customer Council Executive Board in 1996. He was energetic, kind-hearted and had a great sense of humor. He had a genuine concern for people and always greeted you with a smile. Keith was an inspiration and a blessing to all who knew him. We will miss him dearly! Kathy Jenkins, Clemson University. ____ In every way, Keith Oglesby consistently provided an example of being a superior manager of the public's trust, while being a warm, interactive employer and a human being. Hugh M. Hampton, Jr., Manager, Marketing, US Postal Service. ____ Keith believed in the power of positive reinforcement to achieve goals. While others may have resorted to threats or predictions of gloom and doom, Keith inspired each person the encountered to live up to their full potential, not only with his words, but with his actions. Because of his belief in the basic good in everyone, the ``impossible'' became the ``possible'' and achievable. Carolyn Clark, US Postal Service. ____ Daryel (Keith) was a devoted and loving husband; a caring and encouraging father; a faithful friend and a Man among Men. Daryel (Keith) always welcomed people with open arms, accepting them for who they were, never judging but always supporting. Stephen Jeter, Family Friend. ____ Keith Daryel Oglesby never met a stranger. His love and caring for everyone he met was truly an inspiration. Our forty-year friendship with Keith has allowed us to witness his dedication to his family, work and friends with the most wonderful combination of sincerity, responsibility energy and humor. We were blessed to have been a part of his life. Tommy and Jeannie Barret, Family Friends. ____ Keith always put the important things in their proper perspective--like family, a worthy cause, menitoring others, health and doing things he loved. His memory is a source of strength to all who knew him. Guynell Brown, US Postal Service. ____ Not only did Keith always look for and see the best in people, he also helped others see the best in themselves. He was a person who truly ``walked the talk.'' Sandra Taylor, US Postal Service. ____ Keith was the most genuine person I ever met. He always made everyone feel comfortable and at ease. He was everyone's friend. Jeanne Brown, Greenville Marriott. ____ Keith Oglesby was a kind, gentle and honorable man--someone you knew you could trust. Jim Hardwick, Hardwick Printing. ____ 1. A friend to everyone. 2. Caring for others--senior citizens, employees, and visitors. 3. Patience--willing to listen to those who had an opinion, either good or bad. 4. Placed the customer first. 5. Motivator. 6. Encourager--encouraged people to take the worst moments in their lives and make them positive. 7. Loyal--Keith was loyal to the employees at the lowest level of work to the senior management in the organization. 8. Time--Keith would take the time to hear from a dissatisfied customer, an employee with a problem or someone who needed his help. 9. A futurist--looking at a problem and able to see the positive in every situation. 10. A loyal Florida State graduate and Seminole fan. Tommy Abbott, US Postal Service. ____ Keith Oglesby was the most compassionate and caring person you could ever hope to work for. No employee was too small; nor was time ever too short for Keith to take a minute to talk. Thomas Turner, US Postal Service. ____ Keith was the finest neighbor and family man ever. He was a kind, humble person--a gentleman's gentleman. People who met him didn't just like him--they LOVED him. There was no gray area. Robert Moon, Retired postal employee, friend and neighbor. ____ Keith Daryel Oglesby, A Special Friend, June 5, 1947-June 7, 1999-- Postmaster, Greenville, SC, December 26, 1992-June 7, 1999 Loved By All--Missed By All (By Tommy Abbott, June 10, 1999) He must have been born happy and with a smile; It must have remained there when he was a child. He kept it there throughout his adult life--this smile on his face, He shared it with everyone he met no matter what the place. He must have been born with a big heart that had an unusual beat. It was a heart that cared for the people he would meet. A heart that would listen to those who wanted to talk; No matter who the person was or the path they had walked. He must have been born with a caring mind; He always had an attitude that was sweet and kind. [[Page 2320]] When others had a need, he would place them first; And give them food, or water to meet their thirst. He must have been born with happy feet; He would walk around and encourage those he would meet. If he found that you were disappointed with life or a little down; He would cheer you up and you were glad he was around. He must have been born with a gift of encouragement; It was one of those gifts that God would have sent. He was good at encouraging others and lifting them up; It only took his smile, his voice, or sharing coffee in a cup. He must have been born with the ability to look ahead; Because he was normally thinking what to do or what to be said. He had the answers for problems or trouble that came his way; They seemed to disappear when you listened to what he had to say. Keith was born and one day, like everyone, he had to die; That is something we all face in this present life. But he has come onto our life's path and taught us many lessons; On looking at the best in life and be happy for no reasons. God went into the garden the other day to pick some flowers; He didn't have to spend all day searching or even an hour. He saw one flower, it was a beauty and happy in life's breeze; He said that is My flower, I will take it home; And Keith smiled. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of House Resolution 2952. The Keith D. Oglesby Station would be a permanent memorial of the steadfast service of Keith Oglesby to the Greenville community and to the United States Post Office. Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2952. The question was taken. Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________