Renaming Va Clinic in Honor of Elwin Shopteese

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of renaming the VA outpatient clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, after Captain Elwin ``Al'' Shopteese.

Captain Shopteese was born and raised in Mayetta, Kansas, and was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the Kansas National Guard and served as part of Company E, 137th Infantry Regiment.

He deployed to Europe during World War II and fought in both the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Captain Shopteese received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service and selfless sacrifice to our Nation.

After returning to Kansas following the Korean war, Captain Shopteese served as a Tribal council member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and helped create the Indian Community Alcoholism Resources Expeditors Recovery Home.

Captain Shopteese's profound legacy of service to our country and to the Native American community will live on for generations to come. I am proud to join my fellow Kansans in introducing legislation to rename the clinic after this American hero and a member of the Greatest Generation. Honoring the Life of Ken Brock

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Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Ken Brock, a dear friend of mine and a pillar in the southeast Kansas community.

Ken graduated from Fort Scott High School and served in the Kansas Army National Guard before founding Names and Numbers, a business that published easy-to-use local phone books. Ken grew Names and Numbers with his wife, Debbie, into one of the leading independent directory companies in the country.

In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and major job creator, Ken was passionate about strengthening our communities and bringing new economic development to the region. He served as the chairman of the Highway 69 Association and successfully led the charge to expand Highway 69 to a four-lane route from Kansas City to Pittsburg. Ken was also active on the Pittsburg State University campus, serving on numerous boards and advisory committees.

Growing up in southeast Kansas, I know firsthand the profound impact Ken had on our region. Ken was a joyful person, a dedicated person, always putting his family, community, and country ahead of himself. He is someone you would have wanted on your side, and I was glad that he was on mine.

It has been an honor to get to know him and his family over the years, and I am grateful for all that he has done. Ken Brock passed away this past December, but his legacy of faith, family, and community will not be forgotten. Celebrating the Life of Senator Bob Marshall

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Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of State Senator Bob Marshall, who passed away this past September.

Bob Marshall attended the University of Kansas, where he became a four-sport letterman and played basketball alongside the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. He was a tremendous athlete and a tremendous competitor, something I learned firsthand.

Upon graduating KU, Senator Marshall was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and flew vital reconnaissance missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left active duty in 1965 and became a commercial airline pilot for the next 33 years before switching gears and taking on the role as athletic director at Fort Scott Community College.

Bob was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2009, where he served on the transportation, economic development, education, and local government committees, securing crucial funding for universities across our State.

Senator Marshall worked tirelessly to strengthen our communities and serve hardworking Kansas families. I am honored to have the opportunity to have gotten to know him. He will be greatly missed in Kansas. Congratulating Randy Linck on His Retirement

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Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate senior investigator Randy Linck on his retirement from the Brown County Sheriff's Office.

Randy dedicated more than four decades to protecting Kansas families in the Brown County community, making him the longest serving law enforcement officer in county history. He started his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy and eventually served as deputy investigator and undersheriff.

In addition to his work as a law enforcement officer, Randy was an EMT for the Brown County Rescue Squad and the county emergency preparedness coordinator.

I am grateful for Senior Investigator Linck's 40 years of service and sacrifice to northeast Kansas. I wish him and his family the best in his well-deserved retirement.

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