[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16649]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE MEMORY OF CHILD ADVOCATE MARGARET LOIS PRYOR QUEEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 28, 2008

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the memory of Margaret Lois Pryor Queen. Born 86 years ago in Henderson 
County, North Carolina, Lois Queen was a tireless advocate throughout 
her life for children in western North Carolina.
  In 1942, Lois Queen graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College 
as the first female majoring in physical education. Throughout the 
1950's and 1960's, she worked as a schoolteacher and an elementary 
school principal in North Carolina and Fairfax County, Virginia. She 
earned a master's degree in education from American University in 1969, 
while serving as a school principal.
  In 1972, Queen was instrumental in the creation of the Southwestern 
Child Development Commission, a nonprofit agency designed to coordinate 
and generate community resources to support high quality child care 
services, including developmental day care, in the westernmost seven 
counties of North Carolina. Queen became the director of the 
Southwestern Child Development Commission in 1972. The organization now 
has a staff of over 300, and serves more than 2,000 children per month.
  In the 1980's, Lois Queen continued to advocate for children as the 
chair of the North Carolina Day Care Commission. Even during her 
retirement, she served on the boards of the Southwestern Child 
Development Commission and REACH of Haywood County.
  Lois Queen leaves behind 5 children and many grandchildren, nieces, 
nephews and friends. I offer my sincere condolences to them. They are 
in my thoughts and prayers. I would also like to offer my gratitude to 
those who follow the legacy of Lois Queen, and work with the 
Southwestern Child Development Commission to advocate each day on 
behalf of the children of western North Carolina.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse 
at to the passing of Lois Queen. Her life was an example of service and 
advocacy for all of us to follow.

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