[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF MAYOR BOB WASSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2009

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the 
House of the death of Mayor Bob Wasson of Sedalia, Missouri. Bob was a 
lovely man and a dedicated servant to the city of Sedalia, his family, 
and his friends.
  Bob was born on October 20, 1933, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was raised 
in Sedalia, Missouri, and graduated from Hughesville High School. In 
1953, Bob dedicated his services to the country by volunteering for the 
army during the Korean War. He spent his time in Korea as a typist and 
played a pivotal role in hiring KATUSA soldiers, Korean Augmentation 
Troops to the United States.
  In 1962, Bob married his wife, Eleanor. In 1974, they moved back to 
Missouri, where Bob spent the remainder of his years dedicating his 
time and efforts to the community. He began his service as owner of his 
local grocery store, Bob's AF Super. It was through his store that Bob 
began to meet and interact with residents of Sedalia. In addition, Bob 
also spent several years as the director of the Sedalia Senior Center. 
In 1994, he began to reach out to the community by preaching at the 
Broadway Baptist Church. He was ordained in 1997 and spent time 
preaching at the Dresden Baptist Church and the Lamine Baptist Church 
before becoming the pastor at Mt. Herman Baptist Church, where he 
remained pastor up until his death. As Bob steadily became a noticeable 
figure in the Sedalia area, the decision was made to run for public 
office in 2002. Having no previous political experience, Bob was 
victorious in his first mayoral election, defeating the 11-year 
incumbent, winning more then 70 percent of the votes.
  As a politician, Bob is noted for starting the new recycling program, 
building a new community center, supporting Whiteman Air Force Base, 
and developing the economy. However, he is most known for his 
visibility in the community and his interaction with Sedalia citizens. 
Councilwoman Wanda Monsees framed it well when she said, ``When I think 
of Mayor Wasson, the image I get, is of how he would be in the parades, 
and he would have his young grandsons with him. That just personifies 
the kind of guy he was to me.''
  In 2008, Bob was diagnosed with a brain tumor and in April he 
underwent surgery to remove it. In May, he underwent a second surgery 
to remove a tumor discovered in his colon. However, even while battling 
cancer, Bob continued to serve Sedalia as Mayor. I admire the tenacity 
he displayed as he battled cancer and the courage it took to continue 
working and providing sound advice during difficult times.
  Madam Speaker, Bob Wasson was a great man. It was a pleasure to work 
with him on issues that affected Sedalia and central Missouri because 
he fought hard to make it a better area. I will miss him terribly and I 
hope the House will join me in expressing our deepest condolences to 
his family and friends. He was a dedicated servant to the Sedalia 
community, but above all he was a dedicated husband, father, 
grandfather, great grandfather, brother, son and friend.

                          ____________________