[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22197-22198]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HAROLD GEBHARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2003

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of this 
Nation's most distinguished and dedicated Postmasters, Mr. Harold L. 
Gebhard. After 50 years of faithful service to our Nation, the past 28 
years of which he has served the Northwest Florida communities through 
the United States Postal Service, Mr. Sutton deserves to be recognized 
as an outstanding public servant.
  Mr. Gebhard began his devotion to our beloved Nation in 1952, when he 
enlisted in the United States Air Force. He continued with valor in 
Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and was awarded both a Bronze Star and a 
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry when he returned home. Mr. Gebhard served 
22\1/2\ years in the armed services, achieving the rank of Chief Master 
Sgt., E-9.
  In 1975, Mr. Gebhard came to our community and began as a mail 
handler in the Pensacola Mail Processing Plant. A short 5 years later, 
he was promoted Postmaster in McDavid, FL and in 1983; Mr. Gebhard was 
again promoted to Superintendent of Postal Operations in Cantonment, 
FL. For the past 8 years he has kept watch as Postmaster and continues 
his tenure there today. Over the course of his remarkable career, Mr. 
Gebhard has remained focused on maintaining impeccable customer 
relations while serving area residents.

[[Page 22198]]

  Upon his 50th anniversary of Federal service, his wife Leigh Gebhard, 
and both those he has helped serve and those he has worked with, 
appreciate and respect the work he has accomplished over the years. I 
feel confident in saying that Mr. Gebhard truly has an impact in the 
lives of those around him.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my sincere and heartfelt 
congratulations to Mr. Harold L. Gebhard on his 50th anniversary in 
serving the public. For the past 50 years, he has dedicated himself 
towards helping the residents of Northwest Florida and for that we will 
be forever grateful. Mr. Speaker, on this such occasion, we honor one 
of America's greatest public servants.

                          ____________________