July 31, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1363 

gifted leader and renewed the company’s core 

values of safety, dedication to excellence in 

customer service, the growth and development 

of Graniterock people, honesty and integrity, 

continuous improvement, and lifelong learning. 

As a result, the company was awarded the 

United States Department of Commerce’s Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in 

1992, the first winner of the California State 

Quality Award, the Construction Innovation Forum’s NOVA Award in 1994, and consistently 

ranked in the top 25 of Fortune Magazine’s 

100 Best Places to Work. 

Among other charitable pursuits, Bruce 

maintained a special interest in supporting 

education in the Pajaro Valley, where he was 

instrumental in the creation of the Committee 

for Good School Governance. He realized that 

his role as a leader to his employees expanded far beyond the asphalt of the company’s driveway and went through the streets 

of the city, seeking to make a better life for all. 

Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak on behalf 

of the entire House, when I offer the nation’s 

deepest sympathies to Bruce’s wife, Rose 

Ann, his daughter Marianne, his son Arthur, 

his brother Stephen, and his extended 

Graniterock family. He was a hero and a leader that sought to change the world one rock at 

a time. 

f 

CELEBRATING THE 200TH 

ANNIVERSARY OF RIPLEY, OHIO 

HON. JEAN SCHMIDT OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

celebrate the 200th anniversary of a village 

that sits quietly on the banks of the Ohio 

River: Ripley, Ohio. 

James Poage settled on 1,000 acres there 

in 1804, not yet aware of all the natural advantages that the mighty Ohio River and its 

nearby creeks would provide. Soon after, 

Poage and his family would name the town 

Staunton. But in 1816, it was renamed Ripley—after an American officer of the War of 

1812, General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley. General Ripley would later serve as a member of 

Congress. 

Ripley might be best known these days as 

the site of the annual Ohio Tobacco Festival, 

but those who know Ripley’s history understand the importance that this little town 

played in the fight against slavery. 

Mr. Speaker, many of the early residents of 

Ripley shared a hatred of slavery, understanding that all men are created equal. Some 

risked their lives and property in ferrying 

enslaved people across the Ohio River to freedom in the North. 

Threats were made against compassionate 

and courageous villagers such as the Rev. 

John Rankin and the inventor/entrepreneur 

John Parker (a former slave), but the words 

and actions of these members of the Underground Railroad established Ripley’s reputation as a lighthouse of liberty. 

Ripley’s charm is evident in its many stately 

homes, delightful restaurants, and interesting 

antique stores, but fascinating tourist attractions such as the Rankin House State Memorial museum and the John P. Parker Museum 

are the true legacy of this village. 

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join 

me in celebrating the 200th anniversary of the 

remarkable village of Ripley, Ohio, and I hope 

they also will join me in commending this community for its historic role in the battle against 

the sin of slavery. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO EDWARD AND 

VERGENE DONOVAN 

HON. TOM LATHAM OF IOWA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize and honor Edward Donovan, and 

his wife, Vergene Donovan, on the special occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary. This 

special day will take place on August 24, 

2012, and they will be celebrating this landmark occasion on August 26th in Spirit Lake, 

Iowa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Donovan met by 

chance in southern California in July of 1942. 

A 19-year-old Edward approached a pretty 18- 

year-old girl named Vergene on the street and 

asked if he recognized her from Iowa. She 

confirmed she was from Spirit Lake, and the 

two spent the rest of the afternoon getting to 

know each other over soda at a nearby drug 

store. When Edward made it home that night, 

he told his best friend he had met the girl he 

wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Edward proposed to Vergene on their second 

date, and they have never looked back since 

saying ‘‘I do’’ in Long Beach, California on August 24, 1942. 

After moving back to Iowa, Edward began 

work with a small fishing supply company 

known as Berkley and Company in 1950. Over 

his time with Berkley, Edward’s creativity, passion and coordination helped lead the company to international expansion and dominance in the fishing industry. Edward would 

eventually leave Berkley as the Executive Officer of Operations in 1987. Meanwhile, 

Vergene discovered a strong passion for politics and continues to be involved with the 

Dickinson County Republican Party and Republican Women. 

Edward and Vergene currently reside in 

rural Orleans, Iowa and have raised four children—Edward, Jim, DeEtte, and Scott. Their 

children have blessed them with nineteen 

grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. 

The Donovan’s continue to be an active and 

important part of their community and it is truly 

an honor to represent them in the United 

States Congress. 

Edward and Vergene’s lifelong commitment 

to each other and their family truly embodies 

Iowa’s values. I salute this lovely couple on 

their 70th year of life together and I wish them 

many more. I know my colleagues in the 

United States House will join me in congratulating them on this momentous occasion. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO THE ALABAMA 

SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor 

the Alabama School of Math and Science, 

which was recently named one of the best 

public high schools in the state of Alabama. 

In May, Newsweek magazine scored the 

Alabama School of Math and Science, located 

in Mobile, 182nd among the nation’s 1,000 

high schools that are the most effective in 

turning out college-ready graduates. The 

school scored third in the state of Alabama. 

The 220 students at the ASMS take college 

level courses, including Advanced Placement 

classes in chemistry, biology and art. The Alabama School of Math and Science will soon 

expand their curriculum to also include Advanced Placement American History and 

English 11. 

Typically, 100 percent of the graduates of 

Alabama School of Math and Science go on to 

college with 92 percent of those graduates receiving scholarships. This is an amazing accomplishment which speaks well of both the 

dedication of the students, as well as the determination of the school’s faculty to provide 

excellence in the classroom. 

In 1989, the Alabama State Legislature established the Alabama School of Math and 

Science. Mrs. Ann Bedsole, then a Republican 

State Senator from Mobile, was the chief 

sponsor of the legislation. The idea for the 

school came from Senator Bedsole and other 

Mobile citizens who felt the community needed 

to create a school that could give back to the 

state. Each year, over 260 students enroll in 

the school. These students come from all 67 

counties in the state of Alabama. 

On behalf of the people of South Alabama, 

I wish to extend my congratulations to school 

president Dr. Larry V. Turner, principal Ann 

Hilderbrandl, the teachers and other administrators and especially the students of the Alabama School of Math and Science. Their academic achievement is proof positive that Alabama schools and students are among the 

best. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF THE 60TH 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF 

KYLE AUSTIN AND ORELEE 

CLEMENTS KIRBY 

HON. MIKE ROGERS OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I 

would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today—the 60th wedding anniversary 

of Kyle Austin and Orelee Clements Kirby. 

Mr. Kirby was born in Halls Chapel, Alabama on February 1, 1932 and Mrs. Kirby was 

born in Blue Mountain, Alabama, on November 30th the same year. 

They were married on September 8, 1952 in 

Columbus, Mississippi and from there moved 

to Springfield, Massachusetts. They later 

moved where Mr. Kirby was stationed at 

Hickham Air Force Base, Tennessee, and to 

Florida. They currently reside in Anniston, Alabama. 

The Kirbys have raised four children, and 

have 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. They will have an event in Anniston 

on August 25th to celebrate this milestone. 

I salute this lovely couple on the 60th year 

of their life together and join their family in 

honoring them on this special occasion. 


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