[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO RUBY PAONE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, when Ruby Paone started her first day 
on the job in 1975, she was fresh out of college. Today, she has served 
here longer than any current Senator, save one--the senior Senator from 
Vermont.
  Ruby Paone, our Senate doorkeeper, has seen a lot in her 41 years in 
the Senate. She has watched legends, such as Baker and Mansfield, in 
action. She has acquired a lot of unique titles, such as card desk 
assistant and reception room attendant.
  We are really going to miss her when she retires later this month. I 
think Ruby is looking forward to kicking back in Myrtle Beach after 
more than four decades of Senate service. More importantly, I think she 
is anxious to spend some time with her family, away from work. Her son 
Tommy works at the Senate appointments desk. Her daughter Stephanie 
works in the Democratic Cloakroom. Her husband Marty used to as well. 
The two of them even met right here in the Senate.
  We are glad that Ruby will get to spend more quality time--that is, 
non-Senate time--with her family. And we are sure she would like to see 
a little more of her son Alexander as well.
  As Ruby knows, she will be leaving a family behind here too. She has 
served as surrogate mom of sorts to many doorkeepers, pages, and 
interns. They have looked up to her for wisdom and for advice. And it 
is no wonder. She has a lifetime of stories and experiences to share in 
a retirement that is richly deserved.
  We will miss Ruby Paone, but we wish her the very best, and above 
all, we thank her for her many years of service.

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