Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-01-15

REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL

Technology

Context

On 2026-01-15, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL" in the Senate. The speech addressed technology. It referenced legislation: S249.

Full Text

REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S249] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a native Iowan who left this good Earth on November 26, 2025. With his loving wife at his bedside, Rev. Chester Leonard Cavil was welcomed home at age 77. Now, Mr. Cavil and I crossed paths decades ago because of my sister Bunny Wiegmann. My oldest sister worked her entire career at F.W. Woolworth's in Cedar Falls, IA. She was the bookkeeper for the business. Back then, women didn't run the store, at least not officially. But I know that Bunny ran the show. As part of her responsibilities, she trained all the employees and was assigned to train the incoming store manager. That happened to be Mr. Cavil. They worked together at Woolworth's for 12 years. Bunny continued her job there as bookkeeper for a total of 45 years. During his time as store manager, Bunny and Mr. Cavil became good friends. To be sure, their friendship lasted long after he left Woolworth's. Bunny always called him Mr. Cavil, a sign of respect in the workplace. Most of their friendship was long distance. Bunny and her husband Ed traveled to Chicago to celebrate Mr. Cavil's wedding to his beloved wife Ruby in 1986. Thinking back, I would have to say their friendship was the reason Mr. Cavil became one of my earliest--and most visible--supporters. At the time, I was serving in the State legislature. In early 1974, I decided to run for the House of Representatives when H.R. Gross announced his retirement. When I decided to run for Iowa's Third Congressional District, which included the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area, Mr. Cavil wanted to help. Of course, back then, there wasn't such thing as advertising on social media. You did it the old-fashioned way. Mr. Cavil offered to put a larger-than-life sign that said ``Grassley for Congress'' anchored on top of his car. Turned out, that 24/7 kind of advertising was worth its weight in gold--and it was free. Looking back, I would say he went out on a political limb to help me get elected. Every day, Mr. Cavil parked his car with the big blue and white sign anchored on top in the front of the shopping center. Remember, this is before online shopping. So, that sign caught the attention of countless customers in 1974, from the primaries all the way to election day that November. But perhaps most noteworthy was where Mr. Cavil drove his car home every night and parked: his urban neighborhood in Waterloo. I am sure many of his neighbors didn't have the slightest idea who Chuck Grassley even was. For those who knew my political party, I am surprised the sign didn't get ripped off the roof. Either way, the giant ``Grassley for Congress'' sign on top of his car certainly raised my name recognition. And to have his backing made a difference--nothing beats retail politics. I will never forget his steadfast support and loyalty to Bunny. After my election to Congress, Mr. Cavil and his wife kept in touch over the years. After I was elected to the Senate, they visited my office in Washington, DC, a couple of times. The Cavils raised a family and built their life together in Georgia, where they launched a couple of businesses and Mr. Cavil followed his vocational calling. He volunteered for decades as a chaplain and was ordained a Baptist minister. Reverend Cavil immersed himself in his ministry, teaching Sunday school, Bible studies and performing weddings and funerals for the faithful. Barbara and I extend our condolences to his loving wife Ruby, as well as his children, grandchildren, and entire extended family. I have no doubt Mr. Cavil and Bunny have enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days at Woolworth's. ____________________

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REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S249] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING REVEREND CHESTER LEONARD CAVIL Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a native Iowan who left this good Earth on November 26, 2025. With his loving wife at his bedside, Rev. Chester Leonard Cavil was welcomed home at age 77. Now, Mr. Cavil and I crossed paths decades ago because of my sister Bunny Wiegmann. My oldest sister worked her entire career at F.W. Woolworth's in Cedar Falls, IA. She was the bookkeeper for the business. Back then, women didn't run the store, at least not officially. But I know that Bunny ran the show. As part of her responsibilities, she trained all the employees and was assigned to train the incoming store manager. That happened to be Mr. Cavil. They worked together at Woolworth's for 12 years. Bunny continued her job there as bookkeeper for a total of 45 years. During his time as store manager, Bunny and Mr. Cavil became good friends. To be sure, their friendship lasted long after he left Woolworth's. Bunny always called him Mr. Cavil, a sign of respect in the workplace. Most of their friendship was long distance. Bunny and her husband Ed traveled to Chicago to celebrate Mr. Cavil's wedding to his beloved wife Ruby in 1986. Thinking back, I would have to say their friendship was the reason Mr. Cavil became one of my earliest--and most visible--supporters. At the time, I was serving in the State legislature. In early 1974, I decided to run for the House of Representatives when H.R. Gross announced his retirement. When I decided to run for Iowa's Third Congressional District, which included the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area, Mr. Cavil wanted to help. Of course, back then, there wasn't such thing as advertising on social media. You did it the old-fashioned way. Mr. Cavil offered to put a larger-than-life sign that said ``Grassley for Congress'' anchored on top of his car. Turned out, that 24/7 kind of advertising was worth its weight in gold--and it was free. Looking back, I would say he went out on a political limb to help me get elected. Every day, Mr. Cavil parked his car with the big blue and white sign anchored on top in the front of the shopping center. Remember, this is before online shopping. So, that sign caught the attention of countless customers in 1974, from the primaries all the way to election day that November. But perhaps most noteworthy was where Mr. Cavil drove his car home every night and parked: his urban neighborhood in Waterloo. I am sure many of his neighbors didn't have the slightest idea who Chuck Grassley even was. For those who knew my political party, I am surprised the sign didn't get ripped off the roof. Either way, the giant ``Grassley for Congress'' sign on top of his car certainly raised my name recognition. And to have his backing made a difference--nothing beats retail politics. I will never forget his steadfast support and loyalty to Bunny. After my election to Congress, Mr. Cavil and his wife kept in touch over the years. After I was elected to the Senate, they visited my office in Washington, DC, a couple of times. The Cavils raised a family and built their life together in Georgia, where they launched a couple of businesses and Mr. Cavil followed his vocational calling. He volunteered for decades as a chaplain and was ordained a Baptist minister. Reverend Cavil immersed himself in his ministry, teaching Sunday school, Bible studies and performing weddings and funerals for the faithful. Barbara and I extend our condolences to his loving wife Ruby, as well as his children, grandchildren, and entire extended family. I have no doubt Mr. Cavil and Bunny have enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days at Woolworth's. ____________________