Family of 30 gets a big dream home

Eugene Register-Guard

April 7, 1988

By The Associated Press

FIFE, Wash. - Bob and um Cornyn parents of 28 children. received the keys to a 15-bedroorn home Wednesday and Linda Cornyn called it

"A dream come true."

Bob Cornyn, who has been in the US. Army tor 24 1/2 years. arrived tor the ceremonies with his wile and 23 of the 28 children in the family bus.

“Thls is all very exciting." said Bob Cornyn, 42. a chiel warrant officer fourth class who ls stationed at nearby Fort Lewis. "We're all very ecstatic."

"This is a dream come true," said Linda Cornyn. "Somebody believed in us enough to help us. This is something we thought would never happen."

Three children were in school and two others were hospitalized, Bob Cornyn explained. Twenty-five of the Cornyn children are adopted. All were

homeless prior to their adoptions The family members range in age from 8 months to 26 years.

Some of the Cornyn children are South Korean. other Colombian, some Indian. some Amerasian. some black and some white.

A couple or the children have to use crutches to get around. Two are severely mentally retarded.

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-wash. presented the keys to the 5.620-square foot, eight-bathroom home to the Cornyn family.

“You are a great example of what are the very best traditions of our country." Dicks told the Cornyns. "I have two children. Believe me, you've

got to he courageous. it's touching and rewarding to see a tamiiy like this."

The Cornyns’ huge home was re-modeled at a cost ot $60,000 by the Pierce County Housing Development Association, which was forrned last April 24.

Called Project 30 because the Cornyn family numbers 30. the home purchase and remodeling job is the first project undertaken by the association.

Bob Cornyn said he was leasing the home from the association.

"We have a rainbow family." said Bob Cornyn. "We have just about every color there is We look at the rainbow as God's promise."

The Cornyns were high school sweethearts in Michigan who married as soon as Linda graduated. They have spent Bob Cornyn's military career moving from post to post in the United States and overseas.

The Cornyns adopted their first child when the family was stationed in South Korea in 1979.

"Why do we do it?" Bob Cornyn asked rhetorlcally. "1 guess we do it because it teels good and it's the right thing to do. it just makes us feel good to help someone else. We enjoy seeing these children grow physically and mentally."

He pointed out that many of his adopted children would be in institutions if he and his wile hadn't adopted them.

Bob Cornyn said "some" of his adopted children received supplemental Social Security benefits and the family also receives food from local

food banks and clothes from "lots of people."

Under HUD's housing voucher program. the Cornyns are receiving $700 monthly toward rent and utilities.

The Cornyns are moving from a six-bedroom home in Puyallup to their new home.

"lt seems like we've never had enough room." said Bob Cornyn.