[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JOHNNIE BENDY FOR RECEIVING THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2008

  Mr. HENSARLING. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Johnnie 
Bendy for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mineola 
Chamber of Commerce.
  Johnnie Bendy, named after her father who passed away weeks before 
she was born, is known for the impact she has made in her community. 
Ms. Bendy's grandmother and elderly neighbors influenced her love for 
nature and education by taking her fishing, teaching her to identify 
medicinal herbs, and explaining the intricacies of nature. Being raised 
by a single mother in the 1930s inevitably led to difficult times, and 
Ms. Bendy recalls going hungry for days.
  After attending grade school in Mineola, Ms. Bendy worked to pay her 
way through school at Texas College. After graduating, Ms. Bendy taught 
at McFarland School until 1964 when she began her career as a librarian 
at Mineola Middle School, a post she held for 38 years.
  In addition to teaching, Ms. Bendy devoted her time volunteering and 
serving on the city planning and zoning commission, the Kindness 
Cottage, the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, the Community Chest, United 
Way, the East Texas Council of Government, and is a former president of 
Friends of the Library. Ms. Bendy has been recognized both locally and 
nationally as a Distinguished Teacher, Volunteer of the Year, and 1998 
Woman of the Year.
  In 2007, Mineola Mayor Pete Smith dedicated a historical marker to 
Ms. Bendy in the Mineola Nature Preserve on the Sabine River that now 
marks a trail leading to the International & Great Northern Rail Road 
where she spent her childhood playing outdoors.
  In the midst of all this activity, Ms. Bendy sang in her church choir 
and devoted time to organizing and serving on various church 
committees.
  Ms. Bendy's perseverance and selfless attitude in the face of 
cumbersome obstacles qualifies her to receive this lifetime achievement 
award. Her work helped Mineola become a better place to live, work, 
raise a family, and realize the American dream.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth District of Texas, I am honored 
to recognize Johnnie Bendy for earning the Lifetime Achievement Award 
and for sharing her passions to inspire those around her.

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