[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12712]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING BERNICE BECK OF KILLEEN, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, last week, Central Texas, the City of 
Killeen and Ft. Hood lost a friend with the passing of Bernice 
``Bernie'' Beck. Some people will be known for their accomplishments in 
life. Others will be known for their strength of character. My friend, 
Killeen's friend, Ft. Hood's friend, Bernice Beck, will be known for 
both.
  Some will be remembered for service to country in time of war. Others 
will be remembered for service to community in time of peace. Bernice 
Beck will be remembered for both.
  I will miss Bernie Beck, because he was a dear friend, but his 
lasting legacies cannot be missed, not even by those who never knew 
him--Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Ft. Hood's III Corps Headquarters, the 
Soldier Development Center, the Soldier Service Center and Army family 
housing improvement program--these are but a few of the important 
projects that bear the imprint of Bernie Beck's commitment to the 
community and soldiers he loved.
  I'll never forget the first time I met Bernie Beck. It was 1990, and 
I was campaigning for Congress. I asked for his support. In his typical 
quiet but firm determination, he said I would have it, under one 
condition. He wanted to know that I would work to get on the Armed 
Services Committee because of Ft. Hood. I did. He gave it. I won and a 
wonderful friendship was started. Somehow, Bernie Beck always seemed to 
know how to get things done, whether it was business or politics.
  In the 13 years I knew Bernie, never once did he come to me to ask 
for something selfish. It was always something for Ft. Hood, for 
soldiers and their families, and for his beloved Killeen.
  When I was still trying to learn where the bathrooms were in 
Congress, Bernie Beck and his fellow patron of Ft. Hood, Tommy Joe 
Mills, introduced me to the powers to be in Congress and the nooks and 
crannies of the Pentagon. You see, unknown to many, those two would 
come to D.C. every year and wine and dine key staffers, Members of 
Congress and Army officials at their own expense  . . . well, usually 
at Bernie's expense. Tommy Joe's gregariousness and Bernie's quiet 
determination--what a combination. What Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were 
to entertainment, Beck and Mills were to Ft. Hood. They were an 
unforgettable partnership that surely only the Good Lord could have 
brought together . . . and we are all the better for it.
  Whether it was General B.B. Bell in Europe last month or the Chief of 
the Staff of the Army, Rick Shinseki last week, when I met with Army 
leaders anywhere, they asked about Bernie Beck. They admired him, 
because he always cared about the Army family.
  Some people get things done by shouting. That was not Bernie Beck. 
Some people inspire by their eloquent orations. That was not Bernie. 
But, when Bernice Beck spoke, often quietly, people listened and things 
got done. That was the measure of respect he earned from all of us 
blessed to know him.
  I'll never forget the last time I saw Bernie Beck. It was in Killeen 
at our community event honoring Ft. Hood soldiers about to be deployed 
to Iraq. How appropriate for this World War II combat veteran who spent 
4 years in Europe fighting Hitler's forces . . . 58 years later sitting 
quietly in the crowd, never ever forgetting those who serve our nation.
  Bernie Beck understood that one day he would be saved by grace, not 
by good works, but he also knew that helping others was a way to carry 
out the great commandment to ``love thy neighbor as thyself.''
  Now, that day has come and Bernie Beck is blessed to be in that 
special place that God surely saves for those of faith who walked 
humbly, while making life's path better for those who follow.
  May God bless his spirit, just as He blessed us by bringing Bernie 
Beck into this world and into our lives.

                          ____________________