Mr. DODD. Mr. President, it was once said: `Leadership is not bestowed. It is only yours for as long as it is continually earned.' Today, I rise to pay tribute to Mary M. Stefon, a leader and public servant who truly personifies this adage.

Mary recently retired from her post as town clerk of the Town of Sprague, CT--the town she served in various elective capacities for 34 years. Those of us in political life know it is rare to be continually returned to office by one's fellow citizens for so many years, and for Mary Stefon to be so honored by her constituents is a testament to the great respect and faith she has earned from them.

Mary's service to her hometown grew out of her firmly planted roots there. She has lived in Sprague since 1927, graduating from school and raising her family there. She took an active role in many community affairs, serving in official positions on the Board of Education of St. Joseph School, the Sprague Housing Authority, and the Sprague Grist Mill Committee. She was active in Democratic politics, serving as chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer of the Democratic Town Committee. And in elective office, Mary served not only as town clerk until last year, but also as town treasurer until 1977 and agent of town deposit fund until 1982. As if serving in all three elected posts is not impressive enough, consider that for 16 years, she occupied them simultaneously.

But Mary Stefon's schedule was apparently not busy enough, and she participated in many volunteer activities in addition to her other duties. After serving in the U.S. Navy Waves during World War II, her later volunteer activities included speaking to elementary school children as part of the Northeast Utilities Career Motivation Program, working as a volunteer bookkeeper for a Youth Employment Program, and volunteering at St. Mary's Church in Baltic.

Fine people like Mary M. Stefon--wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, mentor, leader, and public official--are indeed the people who create the sense of community in Connecticut's and America's towns. And it is people like her, who always find time to give of themselves to others, who are role models for us all.

Mr. President, this year, sadly, many of the best public servants this country has ever known have made the decision to retire from public life. Mary M. Stefon is without question among them. I wish her well, and join the citizens of Connecticut and the Town of Sprague in thanking her for her dedicated and outstanding public service.

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