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“TRIBUTE TO MARLENE ELLIOTT BROWN” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S1055 on Jan. 29, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MARLENE ELLIOTT BROWN
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I honor Marlene Elliott Brown, who was appointed in 2001 by former President George W. Bush as the Delaware/Maryland Director for USDA Rural Development where she oversaw housing, business, water and waste loan programs, community facilities and grant programs for my State of Delaware and neighboring Maryland.
My staff and I have had the great privilege of working with her on rural development projects including economic development, housing and the provision of critical public utilities throughout rural Delaware.
She started her remarkable career in politics in 1982 when she served as State director for my predecessor, Senator Bill Roth. While Senator Roth was known for his many accomplishments on the national level, in Delaware, he was best known for providing outstanding constituent services. No one was more responsible for building and sustaining this high level of service than Marlene. Striving to meet this standard has been one of my highest priorities as a U.S. Senator and a great challenge for my staff because Marlene set the bar so high. She truly represents the highest level of excellence in public service. More importantly, Marlene has the heart of a public servant which is a rare quality but one that is sorely needed in the world today.
First and foremost, Marlene was a proud southern Delawarean. She grew up on a family farm near Laurel, DE, graduated as valedictorian of her class at Laurel High School, and subsequently graduated from Delaware Technical and Community College and Salisbury University with a major in business administration. In addition to her public service, she has been, and remains, very active in her church and community, having served as past president of the Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Club, former vice chairman of the Republican State Committee, a past Honorary Wing Commander at the Dover Air Force Base, a member of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Delmarva Christian High School, and a member of the Delaware Tech Educational Foundation Council.
She has also received numerous awards, including Outstanding Young Women of America in 1982, Delaware Young Careerist for Delaware Business and Professional Women in 1985, and the first recipient of the William Roth Outstanding Achievement Award in 2004, just to name a few.
I have had the great pleasure of working with Marlene Elliott Brown for many years and joined her frequently to announce USDA funding for projects throughout southern Delaware. Her hard work and dedication to the betterment of rural communities has helped enrich the lives of many Delawareans. Marlene's vibrant spirit is unwavering and her fervent commitment to public service reflects the desire of an individual devoted to making a difference. She is truly a generous and caring friend who has provided inspiration to many. While representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Delaware and Maryland, Marlene somehow found time to help train not one but two people who have served as my county directors in Sussex County. For that, I will always be grateful.
Marlene and her husband still live on a family farm near Laurel where she grew up, and I know that her family, community and our state are very proud of her accomplishments. I want to personally thank Marlene's family for their willingness to share her with all of us. Marlene is quite simply a very good person with a great heart, and I wish her well on the next stage of her noteworthy career.
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