Ken Calvert

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Richard ``Dick'' Oliphant, an American patriot who made incredible contributions to the Coachella Valley who passed away on Monday, July 13, 2026. Dick was a past mayor of the city of Indian Wells, a successful developer, and businessman who will be deeply missed.

Dick moved from Iowa to the Coachella Valley in 1962 to build and manage Palm City, the community later known as Palm Desert Country

Club. He launched his dedication to public service as the city of Indian Wells' first Fire Chief and one of the Coachella Valley's earliest paramedics. In 1984, Dick was elected to serve as Mayor of Indian Wells, which was a small bedroom community that was struggling to survive. Working through the City's newly formed Redevelopment Agency, Dick's financial ingenuity and leadership made possible the Indian Wells Golf Resort, which was the catalyst for the development of the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, the now Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Spa and the BNP Paribas Open's future home of the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens.

Dick believed development should create complete communities--not only homes and businesses, but also schools, public services, recreation and opportimities for the people who lived there. He helped shape the golfing landscape in the Coachella Valley--developing the Palm Desert Country Club and Classic Club. Dick was instrumental in creating the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also helped create the Palm Desert Campus of California State University, San Bernardino, by raising more than $30 million to bring higher education to the Coachella Valley. A full history of the many ways Dick influenced and shaped the future of the Valley is far too long to list, but it is safe to say few people have improved their communities in meaningful ways as much as Dick Oliphant did throughout his life.

Dick was preceded in death by his son, Richard Oliphant II. He is suivived by his wife of 73 years, Jan Oliphant; his children, Virginia Tinley, Deborah Dolan, Wes Oliphant and Mike Oliphant; 8 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Valletta Suepple and Carol Olinger, and his brothers-in-law, Steve McWilliams and King McWilliams. I extend my personal and heartfelt condolences to the Oliphant family, his friends, colleagues, and everyone fortunate enough to know Dick. Although he may be gone, the many contributions he made to the Coachella Valley and our community will make a long lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Gail Mahnke, who passed away on September 17, 2026, after sustaining a traumatic brain injury on September 12 in Gillette, Wyoming. Gail was doing what she truly loved--spending the day with her beloved daughter, Kady, and competing in the barrel races. True to the strength, courage, and determination with which she lived her life, Gail fought valiantly until the very end.

Gail was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming, the beloved daughter of Don and Mary Lou Mahnke, both of whom were well-established and respected members of Casper's medical community. Her Wyoming upbringing helped shape the woman she would become. From an early age, Gail developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors, often sharing cherished stories of hunting alongside her father. It was also during those formative years that her lifelong love of horses began, along with the extraordinary compassion she showed toward animals of every kind. Whether caring for a horse or tending to one of the many creatures and critters that crossed her path, Gail possessed a natural instinct to protect and nurture.

From an early age, Gail knew that she wanted to devote her life to helping animals. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Wyoming before owning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Gail went on to found the Casper Animal Medical Center, where she built a highly successful veterinary practice and served the Casper community for more than 30 years. In the later years of her career, she sold the practice, allowing her to pursue the many other dreams and adventures that still called to her.

While successfully building and managing her veterinary practice, Gail raised her beloved daughter, Kady, and became a guardian to her three nephews, Nick, Josh, and Isaac. Hers was a busy and welcoming household, filled with children to raise, schools and activities to manage, countless animals to care for, and friends who were always made to feel at home. Even with the demands of her family and career, Gail remained deeply committed to animal welfare and charitable service. Whether through the rodeo community or by quietly helping friends, family members, and animals in need, she gave generously of her time, expertise, and resources.

Gail loved to travel and often found ways to combine her journeys with the pursuits she treasured most--horseback riding, scuba diving, Yoga and continuing her professional education through seminars around the world. One of the most special lumen of Gail's life after retirement was watching her daughter, Kady, marry Jarrett in her beloved Cora, Wyoming.

In 2021, she met Evan Matzner, beginning what would become an enduring relationship and business partnership. Together, they shared a passion for real estate, travel, adventure, and creating a life filled with meaningful experiences. They purchased a beautiful home in San Pedro, Belize, and made treasured memories in the places closest to their hearts, including Cora, Wyoming; Custer, South Dakota; Scottsdale, Arizona; Belize; and all the wonderful places in between. Evan will remain forever grateful for the life they shared and the precious time they were given together.

Gail leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and an enduring impression upon the countless lives she touched. Her strength, generosity, compassion, and love for her family, friends, and animals will not be forgotten. She will be forever loved and deeply missed by Evan, her family, her many lifelong friends, and all those fortunate enough to have known her.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the remarkable life of Gail Mahnke and in extending our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my dear friend Dan Hollingsworth who passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Dan was a leader in Riverside County's agriculture industry, a former staff member for Representative Victor Veysey, and a dedicated patriot who was involved in Republican Party politics for most of his life. He will be deeply missed.

Dan was born in Grand Junction, Colorado. At a young age, his family headed west and moved to Pomona, California. Dan graduated from Pomona College in Pomona High School in 1953 and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Dairy Science. During college he also met Joan Clark, who he would marry on December 11, 1955. Just last year, Dan and Joan celebrated their 70th anniversary. Dan started working on a dairy farm near San Luis Obispo while he was in college, then worked at various dairies in the Central Valley and Chino before buying a small dairy in San Jacinto in 1960. ``Dan's Dairy'' was a cash `n' carry dairy where Dan milked fifty cows and Joan helped bottle the milk.

In 1969, Dan went to work for U.S. Representative Victor Veysey, the first of many roles he would fill in service to his conservative beliefs and the Republican Party. Dan served as Chairman of the Riverside County Central Committee twice and joined me as a founding director of the Lincoln Club of Riverside County. Dan volunteered in leadership roles in agriculture as well. He began serving on the Riverside County Farm Bureau Board of Directors in the mid-1960s, a position he filled until his passing. In 1978, Dan bought another dairy in San Jacinto, milking over 600 cows. In 1986, he left the dairy business again, and he and Joan bought land in Murrieta and started a wholesale tree nursery, which supplied large trees to the region for 39 years.

Dan is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughters, Tina Spurgin, Marcy Preston (Larry) and sons, Lennie (Heidi) and Dennis (Natalie) Hollingsworth. He is also survived by his brothers Bob and Charles Hollingsworth, seventeen grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and twenty-seven great-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren. Although he may be gone, the many contributions Dan made to our region and his family will have a lasting impact.