On the recordDecember 10, 2020
I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Edythe Kengla Swann. Edythe was born on December 5, 1920, in Tucson, Arizona, to Herman Kengla and Joaquina Robles Kengla. She is a descendant of Arizona's pioneering ranching and railroad families. Since childhood, Edythe was instilled with a pioneering spirit. Her grandfather, Bernabe Robles, was an immigrant from Mexico who established a stagecoach shop in Arizona that ultimately became the Robles Ranch in the mid-1880s. The ranching complex ultimately comprised over one million acres, making it one of the largest ranches in Arizona. Edythe graduated from the University of Arizona in 1941 with a degree in home economics. As the United States entered World War II, more women were being called upon to fill jobs that were previously held by men. Edythe was determined to take advantage of the new opportunities opening around her. Enamored by the possibility of travel, Edythe became a flight attendant for American Airlines. Flight attendant school was an immersive environment of rigorous training in a multitude of subjects. Edythe became well-versed in the technical side of flying. She excelled in meteorology and was well- prepared for difficult emergencies during flight. Edythe also took great interest in the maintenance of the DC-3 aircraft and was very knowledgeable about the inner workings of many cockpit systems.…
