The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO LYNDAL WHITWORTH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1802 on Oct. 9, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO LYNDAL WHITWORTH
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HON. WES WATKINS
of oklahoma
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my district director, Lyndal Whitworth. On October 20, 2002, Lyndal will retire from Federal service. Lyndal has been a friend and partner in my efforts to help bring jobs and economic opportunities to the Third Congressional district, and he will be greatly missed by all who have known him and worked with him.
I first met Lyndal in the Spring of 1966 when I was the high school and college relations director for Oklahoma State University. I was in Lamont, Oklahoma, for a Future Farmers of America Banquet at Lamont High School, where Lyndal was a junior. Lyndal was a top student, and a fellow FFA officer, so I recruited him to attend OSU, my alma mater. Lyndal went on the OSU, where he earned a degree in agriculture and served in the student government.
In the Spring of 1978, during my freshman term in the House, I had an opening in my Washington office for a legislative assistant for agriculture. Lyndal was working on the Agriculture Department communications staff at OSU, and I immediately thought of him for the position. Unfortunately, for me Lyndal declined the offer for family reasons--he had a pregnant wife and young son, so the timing was not right for him to move to Washington.
Later that year, however, I had another job opening--this one in my Ada, Oklahoma, district office. So, I contacted Lyndal again to ask him to join my district staff, and this time he accepted.
Lyndal Whitworth and I share a dedication to rural Oklahoma and a commitment to working as hard as it takes and for as long as needed to get the job done. Keeping up with me is no easy task, and Lyndal's positive attitude and dedication to me and my mission made him a perfect fit as my district director. Lyndal frequently joined me in putting in 14, 16 to 18 hours a day, helping on my primary mission to improve the economic conditions of the Third District of Oklahoma, historically the most economically distressed area of the State.
Lyndal's efforts in the district assisted my legislative efforts in Washington during my time in Congress. Just a few of the many projects for which Lyndal provided valuable assistance include Winding Stair National Recreation Area, McGee Creek Reservoir, Wes Watkins Reservoir; the USDA Agriculture Research Station in Lane, the OSU Center for International Trade Development, numerous highway and rural water projects, and countless local economic development and business recruitment projects. Our efforts have been very successful. The Third district has made great strides, and today is transforming from a depressed welfare area to an active economic growth area.
I have served in the House for a total of 20 years, from 1977 to 1991 and from 1997 to the present. Lyndal Whitworth has served on my staff for sixteen of those twenty years. He served his nation in the U.S. Army, worked for the United States Senate, and served as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I ask that the House join me in thanking Lyndal Whitworth for his many years of faithful public service and for a job well done.
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