[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 5797]]

   RECOGNIZING ODE LEE MADDOX, MACK LEE TAYLOR, AND ROBERT C. (BOB) 
                             McWILLIAMS III

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the legacy and 
achievements of three distinguished Arkansans who passed away recently.
  For eight years, I had the privilege of serving in the Arkansas 
General Assembly with a distinct public servant and a champion for our 
schools, state representative Ode Lee Maddox. Rep. Maddox was a 
lifelong resident of a small town called Oden, Arkansas, where he 
represented the people in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 
1957 through 1998.
  While I served across the state capitol building in the Senate, I 
like so many of my colleagues, held the highest respect and admiration 
for Rep. Maddox.
  Rep. Maddox loved politics and loved serving in the state 
legislature. More importantly, though, he loved education. He spent 42 
years working for the Oden School District, including 31 as 
superintendent of the school district. He started his career as a bus 
driver and coached two state champion basketball teams in 1948 and 
1954.
  In the state legislature, colleagues affectionately referred to Rep. 
Maddox as ``Mr. Education.'' In fact, one of his former colleagues 
recently noted, ``He supported all of the education bills, if they were 
good bills.'' In 1983, Rep. Maddox helped secure funding for the Rich 
Mountain Community College in nearby Mena, Arkansas, which became one 
of his proudest accomplishments.

  Known for his quiet, easygoing personality, Rep. Maddox gained the 
respect of his peers through his ability to bring people together on 
important issues, such as education. Away from work, he loved being 
outdoors--hunting and fishing--and spending time with his family.

  Those of us who knew and loved him will remember Rep. Maddox for his 
devotion to his family and his community, and to seeing that our young 
people are provided the best education possible.

  Mack Lee Taylor, of Magnolia, Arkansas, was also a leader in his 
community as well as the banking industry. He, too, was a lifelong 
resident of Arkansas.

  Born in Warren, Arkansas, Mack moved with his family to Magnolia as a 
teenager. After graduating from Magnolia High School, he earned his 
bachelor's degree at Southern State College--now Southern Arkansas 
University--and graduated from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking 
at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, before starting his 
career at First National Bank in Magnolia.

  During his career, Mack helped organize the Metropolitan National 
Bank of Little Rock, where he served as executive vice president and 
director. He later returned to Magnolia to serve as executive vice 
president and director and, eventually, as president and chief 
operating officer of Farmers Bank and Trust.
  Mack served on the boards of directors for several prominent 
organizations including the Southern Arkansas University Foundation, 
Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation and Arkansas Council on 
Economic Education. He was an active member of numerous civic groups 
such as the Magnolia Rotary Club and the Magnolia Economic Development 
Corporation and was a leader in organizations like the Arkansas Bankers 
Association, the Southern Arkansas University Board of Governors, the 
South Arkansas Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce and others.
  In 1994, he was honored as a distinguished alumnus of Southern 
Arkansas University.
  Mack Taylor was a pillar in his community. His death is a great loss 
not only to his friends and loved ones, but to the people of Magnolia 
and all of Arkansas.
  The people of Arkansas also lost a distinguished veteran and 
outstanding citizen in Robert C. (Bob) McWilliams III.
  Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Bob was raised and educated in Little 
Rock and Jonesboro, Arkansas. After graduating from Arkansas State 
University in Jonesboro with a bachelor's degree in military science, 
he received his master's degree in human resources from Central 
Michigan University and attended the Army Command and General Staff 
College.
  Commissioned into the Army in 1964, Bob served two tours in Vietnam, 
where he flew helicopters as an Army aviator. During his service to our 
country, he received numerous awards and decorations including the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army 
Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and senior aviator 
wings.
  Bob spent 30 years as a government employee, during which time he 
served as Provost Marshal and Chief of Security at the Pine Bluff 
Arsenal in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and president of the local chapter of 
the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) at Pine Bluff 
Arsenal.
  He was also pastor of the Sherill United Methodist Church.
  Throughout his life, Bob dedicated himself to serving God and our 
nation, and to helping his fellow citizens and working families. He 
will be long remembered by all those whose lives he touched.
  Today, I honor these three individuals--Ode Lee Maddox, Mack Lee 
Taylor, and Robert C. (Bob) McWilliams--for their commitment to giving 
back to their neighbors, their communities, and their country, and I 
hope that their lives will serve as an example to future generations.

                          ____________________