Dyess Child Development Center renamed in honor of former Texas senator

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Dyess Child Development Center was renamed in honor of former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison during a dedication ceremony Oct. 15, 2014, here.

The building was renamed the Kay Bailey Hutchison Child Development Center to recognize Hutchison for her 20 years of support to Team Dyess while representing Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2013.

"I'm so honored and astonished to have the CDC carry my name," Hutchison said. "This was such a wonderful surprise for me, so I am deeply touched by this prestige."

Prior to the ceremony, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee hosted a luncheon at the Dyess Event Center to commemorate the former senator.

"In my mind, I felt she deserved the recognition," said Dr. James Webster, former chairman of the MAC. I am convinced we wouldn't have Dyess AFB today without all the infrastructure she helped ensure was built. Also, the CDC was near and dear to her heart, and she always felt families were a significant priority, he said.

Base leadership, community leaders and other distinguished guests, including Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander, were in attendance for the event.

"Kay Bailey Hutchison is a leader who served and a servant who led," Starr said. "One of the aspects in the world that mean more to her than the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, are the family members who support those servicemembers. That's one of the reasons why it's so appropriate for her name to go on the CDC."

During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Hutchison served on the Appropriations Committee and subcommittees of Appropriation to include Defense, Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs. She supported not only the CDC, but other key programs at Dyess.

"I've been to several countries where I've asked the troops what they needed the most," Hutchison said. "Their responses were, the comfort [of knowing] their loved ones are getting the best care and assistance at home."

The CDC at Dyess was named the number one child care facility in Air Combat Command for each of the last two years. The $5.4 million, 26,000-square foot facility, which hold 18 classrooms, was built in 2002. It has the capacity to care for 247 children.