[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE 109TH BIRTHDAY OF CECELIA M. RUPPERT

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                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2007

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating the 109th birthday of Cecelia M. Ruppert of 
Pickneyville, Illinois.
  Cecelia Ruppert was born on August 17, 1898 to George and Louisa 
(Schneider) Ruppert in their home at 602 W. Mulberry Street in 
Pinckneyville, Illinois. The house, which is still standing, was built 
by Matthew Schneider for his daughter, Louisa and her husband.
  Cecelia was the second oldest of George and Louisa's 8 children. She 
attended St. Bruno School. While in grammar school, Cecelia took piano 
lessons and she and her older sister, Magdalen, would entertain 
neighbors by playing duets on the piano. Cecelia had many chores at 
home, such as rocking the babies, washing clothes on a washboard, 
ironing, and peeling potatoes each day.
  Cecelia's first job was in Pinckneyville at McCant's General Store, 
where she sold ladies' dresses and would sometimes go to the basement 
to fill coal oil cans for sale. At age 21, she moved to St. Louis where 
she attended Brown's Business College, and took business courses at 
Washington University. While pursuing her studies in St. Louis, Cecelia 
also volunteered as a teacher.
  After completing school, Cecelia went to work for the Claridge Hotel 
in St. Louis, starting as a stenographer, and advancing to the 
bookkeeping department where she learned auditing. She was transferred 
to the LeClaire Hotel in Moline, Illinois and then was promoted to the 
Claridge Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee where she served as auditor until 
her retirement at age 65. After retirement from the Claridge Hotel, 
Cecelia remained in Memphis, serving as auditor at the Chisca Plaza 
Hotel until her final retirement at the age of 75.
  After retirement, Cecelia returned to the family home in 
Pinckneyville where she enjoyed the company of her sister, Magdalen 
Ruppert Mann and the Mann family. Cecelia's sister, Cdr. Margaret 
Ruppert, NC, USN, Ret., of Pensacola, Florida, would visit frequently.
  During her years in business, Cecelia saw many changes and 
technological advancements. While she used adding machines and 
calculators in her job, she remarks that now computers have become the 
primary business tool. Other changes that Cecelia has witnessed involve 
the expanded opportunities for women in the business world. In 2000, 
when she was interviewed for The Southern Illinoisan and was asked to 
name the biggest improvement she had seen in 102 years, Cecelia 
responded, ``That women can go forward in the business world. That's 
wonderful. Now they can have a job with a man's rank. They can have any 
occupation.''
  Cecelia came from a hard working family. Her father was employed at 
the mill and in the mines and her mother worked diligently to raise and 
educate their large family. Even though Cecelia was well ahead of her 
time by pursuing a successful career in the business world, she always 
remembered the lessons learned during her childhood, respect all people 
and go to church on Sunday.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Cecelia M. Ruppert on reaching this milestone birthday and wishing her 
all the best for the future.

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