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“BOB COOK TURNS 80” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1095-E1096 on May 26, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
BOB COOK TURNS 80
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HON. WALTER B. JONES
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 26, 1999
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent who has rendered great service to his country and his community and who will turn 80 on June 19. His family and friends will honor him at a surprise fete on Saturday, May 29, in Duck, North Carolina.
Robert (Bob) Cook worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 26 years before he retired in 1980. While there, he managed Price Support programs in honey bees, potatoes, turkey, milk and wheat. What that really means is he ensured that farmers received government assistance when they were economically devastated by a disaster. For instance, in the 1960s, our Western states were hit by a pesticide disaster which affected milk. All milk had to be poured down the sewer. Bob wrote the program to assist the farmers whose livelihoods were threatened by the loss.
Bob was born and grew up in Texas in a small farming community called Lampasas. He was the youngest of eight children, all of whom helped their parents who were ranchers raising sheep and cattle. After graduating from high school, Bob enrolled in Texas A&M but he felt his duty to serve his country before he could graduate. He left in his senior year to fulfill his duty to his country. He joined the Army where he served in Europe in World War II as a Quartermaster, supplying the front lines with food and other necessities. After the war, he returned to Texas A&M where he graduated. Bob then taught GIs returning from the war to become farmers and ranchers. He had an acute interest in raising sheep and soon he received a Masters Degree from the University of Wyoming which had an outstanding program in this area. He began his tour with the Department of Agriculture in San Francisco but was soon transferred to Boston. There he met his lovely bride to be, Dorathy Holmes, and married her 45 years ago. They moved to Washington, DC in 1954, both working for the Department of Agriculture. They lived in Alexandria, Virginia where they were active in community life, most particularly in their Jewel Street neighborhood. The ``Mayor of Jewel Street and Aunt Doe'' helped raise and supervise neighborhood children, many of whom have adopted them as grandparents. Many of those parents and children will be present at the celebration honoring their beloved ``Uncle Bob'' Memorial Day weekend at the Duck home of Mary and David Gordon: the Gordons' son Scott, daughter Jenifer and her husband Dave Tran; Eleanor Scott; Jean and Dick Donnelly and their son Jamie; Rosemary and Johnny Perdue; Joy and Don Earner; Ray Bailey and Alice Rowan and their two sons William and John; and Francis Urban. In addition many of Bob's friends in Duck will be in attendance. For years Bob and Doe kept their house on Jewel Street and split their time between Alexandria and Duck. In 1993, they moved to Duck permanently.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have Bob and Dorathy as constituents and I ask that my colleagues in this chamber join me in thanking Bob for the many contributions he has made to his country and to his community and in wishing him a very happy birthday.
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