[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 26890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        TRIBUTE TO JOAN DOUGLASS

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, Joan Douglass is a real gem, a classy, 
knowledgeable woman who connects with people of all ages. She has had 
one of the toughest and most important jobs in our office. Joan has 
been on the front line. Joan is the first person you see when you come 
into our Columbus office. She is the person whose voice you hear when 
you call our Columbus office, the first person to answer the phone. 
That is an office that actually is not just my office. It is also 
Senator Voinovich's office. We have, in Ohio, a joint casework office, 
which has worked out very well. Joan is the person there who greets 
everyone.
  Over the years, Joan has put up with just about everything: bomb 
threats, sit-ins, now even anthrax scares. Joan is a rock. She is as 
solid as they come.
  Everyone who knows Joan speaks of her with such fondness. She is 
really a person with no enemies. Her love, her compassion for people is 
unmatched. She loves people. They love her back.
  You know, it takes quite a lady to take a new job at the age of 72, 
which is what Joan did when she came to work for us--especially the job 
working for two Senators. What could be tougher than that? Who in the 
world would ever think of doing that? Who goes from being a State 
legislator, which Joan was, a real estate broker, and many other 
exciting jobs, to working for two Senators? Only Joan.
  Actually, before she worked for us she worked for then-Governor 
Voinovich for 8 years. Four of those years I was the Lieutenant 
Governor. Every day when I would come to work, Joan would be the first 
person I would see--always smiling, always happy, always professional.
  Joan continues to amaze me in everything she does. I am astounded by 
her energy and her great sense of adventure. Nothing ever seems to slow 
her down.
  Joan really is a terrific role model for all of us. In fact, she 
should be the poster child for how Federal employees should treat 
people. No matter what, Joan has always greeted everyone who walked 
into our office with great respect and great compassion. It didn't 
matter if it was someone who loved me or hated me. It didn't matter, 
Joan was steady. She treated them the right way. She treated everyone 
in that same sweet, nurturing, nonthreatening, and friendly way.
  Joan has always handled herself with such professionalism, and no 
matter what, no matter how busy she was, she always has had time for 
people, especially for the younger people, younger members of our staff 
in the office. She really has been a role model. She has been a mentor. 
Every time I see her, Joan always asks about Fran, asks about our 
children and now our grandchildren. I have always appreciated that.
  I speak for so many in our office and many across the State of Ohio 
when I say that, although we are happy for Joan upon her retirement and 
we wish her nothing but the best with her new post-Senate endeavors, we 
are saddened by her departure and we will miss her dearly.
  We will miss her dedication to the people of the State of Ohio. We 
will miss her optimism and her cheerful nature. We certainly will miss 
her terrific sense of humor. Most of all, we will just miss Joan.
  She is one great lady. My wife Fran and I wish her all the best in 
the world.
  In conclusion, I thank Joan for her dedication to the people of the 
State of Ohio, for her friendship, and for the work she has done for 
our country.

                          ____________________