[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING RICHARD RIEDEL OF SPRING HILL, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 7, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor Richard Riedel of Hernando County, Florida. Richard will do 
something later this year that all of us strive to do, but that very 
few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate his 100th birthday.
  Richard was born February 1, 1909 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. 
Richard's favorite childhood memories include receiving his first 
bicycle and robbing his sisters' piggy banks to buy penny candy.
  During his youth, Richard attended Sturbridge Public and Vocational 
School, and then went on to serve as a sergeant in the United States 
Air Force. Eventually moving to Florida, Richard started working at 
Linen Company in St. Petersburg, Florida, eventually working his way up 
from a driver to the vice president of the company, an accomplishment 
of which he is very proud.
  Throughout his life, Richard married twice, but had no children. His 
first wife Lucille passed away in 1981 and his second wife Ann passed 
away in 2006. He has fond memories of sailing into New York harbor and 
seeing the Statue of Liberty and the tug's radio playing ``Sentimental 
Journey.''
  Richard came to Hernando County in 1984 looking for a retirement 
community where he could keep his dog. Today he enjoys living in the 
Timber Pines community where he is far away from the congestion of 
Pinellas County. Richard is quite the everyday comedian, telling 
friends and neighbors that breathing gives him the most pleasure. If he 
had his life to do over again, Richard said he would get more 
education, and his advice to young people today is to always do things 
in moderation and be conservative.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Richard Riedel for 
reaching his 100th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to 
live as long as him.

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