Francis Rooney: “Today I rise in support of the legislation designating the United States Postal Service located in my district at 401…”

“Today I rise in support of the legislation designating the United States Postal Service located in my district at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the Roy Rood Post Office Building. Roy was a longtime resident and a founding father of my hometown of Tequesta, Florida. Roy was born in 1918 on a farm in Jupiter, Florida, one of 11 children. Roy's childhood was spent working on his family's dairy farm where he learned the value of a hard day's work and fostered his love of the outdoors. The Rood farm was also home to Tequesta's first post office. Rood joined the U.S. Navy in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served with dignity and honor as a trained instructor and aviation mechanic throughout World War II. Rood was stationed on the USS Hollandia C 97, a jeep aircraft carrier that was part of the fleet that participated in the Battle of Guam. By the end of the war, Roy had risen to the rank of aviation mate first class and was an acting chief petty officer. Following the war, Roy returned home to Florida where he started a landscaping business that continues today. Before his death in October of last year, Roy Rood helped found American Legion Post 271, of which I'm a member; the local Kiwanis Club; the First Bank of Jupiter; and Jupiter Christian School. Tequesta has seen many changes over the last 60 years and has grown due to the hard work and dedicated lives of people like Roy Rood.…”