Michael Baumgartner

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald on his upcoming retirement after a lifetime defined by service.

Oftentimes, county clerks and other local and government officials get overlooked, but they shouldn't be. Having a good county clerk matters, and Tim Fitzgerald was a great county clerk.

Tim served as a vital nexus for the Spokane VET Court and Spokane Veterans Forum. By focusing on treatment, VA integration, and peer mentorship, he created a program that has graduated over 500 veterans and reduced the local veteran recidivism rate to 5 percent. This statistic represents real lives transformed and peace restored to hundreds of military families.

Tim Fitzgerald's devotion to duty began long ago. He dedicated three decades to the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel after crucial leadership deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He brought that same elite leadership to county government, earning recognition as Washington State's Clerk of the Year in both 2017 and 2022.

A true gentleman and proud graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Tim embodies the highest traditions of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Tim and wishing him and his wife, Tracy, the best in the next chapter of their lives.

Recognizing Ferris High School's Football Head Coach Billy Newman

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ferris High School's football team for naming a new head coach, Billy Newman, and I congratulate them on their first win of the season on Friday.

Billy Newman brings more than two decades of coaching experience and strong ties to the Spokane community. I remember him as a standout football player for Washington State University, and I appreciated Coach Newman when he coached my son in AAU basketball.

Billy's appointment reflects Ferris High School's commitment to strengthening its football program through character development and meaningful partnership with students, staff, and the broader community.

Billy said upon becoming the coach: ``This football program will be built on school and community pride. It is an honor to represent our school, our families. . . .''

I wish the Saxons and all the high school football teams of eastern Washington success as they take on what looks to be a great football season.

I wish good luck to the players, coaches, and the entire family, and, once again, I congratulate Coach Newman and the Ferris boys' football team on that first win of the season.

Honoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Robert Wolfe

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Robert Wolfe, a longtime physician, public servant, and member of the Spokane community who passed away on September 7 at the grand old age of 94.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Nebraska, Dr. Wolfe served as an Army physician in Okinawa, attaining the rank of captain. He and his wife, Patricia, eventually settled in the Spokane Valley where he spent three decades caring for patients and strengthening the local healthcare system.

Dr. Wolfe helped establish the first full-time staffing of the Valley General Hospital emergency department and wrote Washington State's first emergency services manual. He later became a founding partner of Occupational Medicine Associates and served as a physician for Kaiser Aluminum.

His commitment to service extended beyond medicine. Charlie served in the Washington State House of Representatives, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nominated Ronald Reagan, and devoted years to causes including the Union Gospel Mission and Christian education.

I extend my condolences to the family, and I join all of Congress in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Charles Robert Wolfe. God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald on his upcoming retirement after a lifetime defined by service.

Oftentimes, county clerks and other local and government officials get overlooked, but they shouldn't be. Having a good county clerk matters, and Tim Fitzgerald was a great county clerk.

Tim served as a vital nexus for the Spokane VET Court and Spokane Veterans Forum. By focusing on treatment, VA integration, and peer mentorship, he created a program that has graduated over 500 veterans and reduced the local veteran recidivism rate to 5 percent. This statistic represents real lives transformed and peace restored to hundreds of military families.

Tim Fitzgerald's devotion to duty began long ago. He dedicated three decades to the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel after crucial leadership deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He brought that same elite leadership to county government, earning recognition as Washington State's Clerk of the Year in both 2017 and 2022.

A true gentleman and proud graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Tim embodies the highest traditions of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Tim and wishing him and his wife, Tracy, the best in the next chapter of their lives.

Recognizing Ferris High School's Football Head Coach Billy Newman

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ferris High School's football team for naming a new head coach, Billy Newman, and I congratulate them on their first win of the season on Friday.

Billy Newman brings more than two decades of coaching experience and strong ties to the Spokane community. I remember him as a standout football player for Washington State University, and I appreciated Coach Newman when he coached my son in AAU basketball.

Billy's appointment reflects Ferris High School's commitment to strengthening its football program through character development and meaningful partnership with students, staff, and the broader community.

Billy said upon becoming the coach: ``This football program will be built on school and community pride. It is an honor to represent our school, our families. . . .''

I wish the Saxons and all the high school football teams of eastern Washington success as they take on what looks to be a great football season.

I wish good luck to the players, coaches, and the entire family, and, once again, I congratulate Coach Newman and the Ferris boys' football team on that first win of the season.

Honoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Robert Wolfe

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Robert Wolfe, a longtime physician, public servant, and member of the Spokane community who passed away on September 7 at the grand old age of 94.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Nebraska, Dr. Wolfe served as an Army physician in Okinawa, attaining the rank of captain. He and his wife, Patricia, eventually settled in the Spokane Valley where he spent three decades caring for patients and strengthening the local healthcare system.

Dr. Wolfe helped establish the first full-time staffing of the Valley General Hospital emergency department and wrote Washington State's first emergency services manual. He later became a founding partner of Occupational Medicine Associates and served as a physician for Kaiser Aluminum.

His commitment to service extended beyond medicine. Charlie served in the Washington State House of Representatives, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nominated Ronald Reagan, and devoted years to causes including the Union Gospel Mission and Christian education.

I extend my condolences to the family, and I join all of Congress in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Charles Robert Wolfe. God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a legend in Washington State University Cougars' athletics, former head football coach, Bill Doba, who passed away last week at the age of 85.

Bill was a great man and a great football coach, a longtime defensive coordinator, and 5-year head coach for the Cougars from 2003 to 2007. In all, he worked 19 seasons at WSU and was the lead architect of the renowned Palouse Posse defense, which led the country in 1994.

Bill was also a very devoted husband. Many knew of his lifetime romance with his wonderful wife, Judy. Judy herself was a great woman. I knew her personally when she volunteered frequently in my mother's kindergarten classroom at Franklin Elementary.

Bill Doba left a great impact on the entire State of Washington and the Pullman community, and he is remembered fondly.

Given that this is Apple Cup week, Mr. Speaker, I think it is also worth noting that Coach Bill Doba had a winning record against the Huskies and gave them a spanking in his last Apple Cup.

Rest in peace, Bill Doba, and thank you for all you have done for Cougar nation.

Honoring Walt Worthy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great member of the Spokane community, Mr. Walt Worthy. Many people know Walt and his wonderful wife, Karen, for their tremendous work to revitalize the Davenport Hotel. Today, I honor Walt for his extremely generous establishment of the Karen Worthy Memorial Wildfire Grant that will fund personal $10,000 donations to victims of the Spokane fires.

In total, his generous donation could approach beyond $5 million, perhaps even $10 million, depending on how many fire victims are deemed eligible. It was only fitting that this announcement was made at Balboa Elementary School in the neighborhood of the fires and named in honor of his beloved wife, Karen. Karen taught first grade at Balboa Elementary School for nearly 20 years as Walt transitioned from his career as a survival specialist with the United States Air Force into a career as a builder and a developer.

I thank Walt Worthy for his generosity to the victims of these terrible fires. I thank him for all he has done for Washington State, our Spokane community, and indeed these United States of America. I am pleased to share his lifetime romance in memory of Karen here on the floor of Congress.

Honoring Ambassador Timothy Carney

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great patriot, a friend, and a giant of American diplomacy, Ambassador Tim Carney, who passed away earlier this month after a long fight with cancer.

Ambassador Carney was the 14th United States Ambassador to Sudan and the 45th United States Ambassador to Haiti.

I got to know Ambassador Carney during my year at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the Iraq surge where we worked closely together on issues related to Baghdad.

Ambassador Carney is one of those Americans that you read about in storybooks: an adventurer, a scholar, and indeed, truly a diplomat.

His wife, Vicki Butler, is equally amazing. Vicki came from a prominent Spokane family. They met in Southeast Asia and had a patriotic romance that spanned the globe and made a lasting impact on Washington State and the United States of America.

When Tim finished his diplomatic career, he came back to Spokane with Vicki and served as a very important director of our museum of arts and culture, helping bridge a challenging period in that institution's time.

I remember Tim fondly. Here in this photo you can see Tim and Vicki with me and my wife, Eleanor, and I look to them as an inspiration in my own romance with my wonderful wife.

Tim, you will not be forgotten. Vicki, you are loved, and we thank both of you for your tremendous impact on these United States of America.