Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I rise to recognize the passing of

Bernard Kerst, a great man from my district. Bernard spent most of his 87 years living in Yuma, Colorado, and during that time he made a significant impact on the life of countless individuals and his county. I am honored today to bring his contributions to the attention of this body of Congress and this Nation.

Bernard Kerst was born on July 9, 1917. When the Great Depression swept the country, he left high school and got a job to support himself and his family. He started a trucking business in his twenties and then built Victory Ships in Oregon during World War II. Afterward, he moved back to eastern Colorado, married DeVonna Gregory, and began farming and ranching. Being an avid conservationist, Bernard served on the board of the East Yuma County Soil Conservation District and was awarded the Bullshippers award from the Farm and Ranch Association for his outstanding service and leadership.

Bernard was a dedicated family man, raised two children, Carolyn and Dan, had many grandchildren and was able to know his first great grandchild, Isabel Carolyn. Due to health problems, Bernard and DeVonna moved to Arizona. After DeVonna passed away in 1999, Bernard moved back to Colorado to be close to his family living in Glenwood Springs.

Mr. Speaker, Bernard Kerst was a dedicated man who worked hard, supported his community and loved his family, and I am honored to pay tribute to him before this body of Congress today. I had the pleasure of knowing Bernard and worked with members of his family during my time in office, and I will miss his kind heart and wisdom. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this time of bereavement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson and thank her for her tireless efforts serving the people of Colorado as a three-term member of the Colorado State Senate. Norma will always be remembered as a dedicated public servant and leader of her community. As she continues to serve the citizens of District 22, let it be known that she has made a great commitment to the Colorado General Assembly and the State of Colorado.

Norma began her public service career when she was elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives in 1986, and has been a champion of education, transportation, crime and tax reform issues in the General Assembly. She served as the Chair of the Education, Transportation and Energy, and Audit Committees and previously as the Vice-Chair of Long-Term Health Care Task Force,

and Higher Education Planning Committees. After serving ten years in the State House, Norma continued her service to Colorado when she was elected to the Colorado State Senate in 1998. As a State Senator, Norma currently leads her party as the Senate Majority Leader. She serves on the Finance and Legislative Audit Committees and is the former chair of the Business Affairs and Labor Committee. Norma's major accomplishments include such important laws as the School Finance Act of 1994, the Third Grade Literacy Act and the creation of the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Norma is a dedicated legislator whose leadership has been awarded with the honor of being the first woman to hold the position of Majority Leader in both the state House and state Senate. Over the course of her tenure she has been the recipient of more than sixty-five recognitions and awards including the Denver Women's Commission, the Colorado Women's Chamber Senator of the Year, and the Colorado School of Mines Medal. In addition to her service to the General Assembly, Norma is also a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado Board, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Higher Education, the American Cancer Society and several other community organizations.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Norma Anderson has ceaselessly dedicated her time and efforts to serving her country and the people of Colorado as a Colorado State Senator. I am honored to bring her hard work and commitment to the attention of this body of Congress and this nation today. Thank you for all your service Norma and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize to the Bovard Family and their distinguished tradition in the horse industry. Their dedication and success in the industry is due to the contributions of four generations of Bovard family members working on the farm. It is my privilege today in recognizing their achievements before this body of Congress and this Nation.

The Bovard legacy began forty-three years ago when Larry Bovard went out to the race track to look for work after admiring his older brother's work as a horse trainer. He landed a job as a horse groomer for a horse racing tycoon and continued there until he moved onto other work before joining the army in 1969. Upon his return from service, Larry settled in Ridgeway, Colorado with his wife Roma, raising cattle. Roma's family had raised Percheron horses for years and in 1984, the Bovards got their chance to raise their own team. The Bovard family gave sleigh rides, wagon rides, and drove newlyweds about in stage coaches until they acquired ranch property of their own in Montrose. Currently the Bovards have 30 head of award-winning Percheron horses that placed in nine out of twelve class competitions at the National Western Stock Show.

Mr. Speaker, the Bovard family has demonstrated a love for horses that has transcended four generations and their success today is due to the dedication that the entire family puts in day after day from dawn to dusk. I am honored to recognize their accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Sue Shelton, a talented and respected teacher at Rocky Ford High School in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Sue has diligently worked to educate the region's youth for 21 years and is considered a strong leader in her community. It is a privilege to recognize her impeccable service before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Teaching is a family tradition in Sue's family that has involved her mother, grandmother, and most recently, her sister. Sue teaches Language Arts and English at Rocky Ford High School, winning several awards for her excellence in teaching including honors by her fellow faculty members and the student body. Sue makes learning fun for her students and encourages patriotism in the classroom by implementing the Voice of Democracy essay contest into the curriculum. The contest requires students to keep research logs about patriotism and write speeches about what patriotism means to them before submitting their essays to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post that annually chooses a winner.

Mr. Speaker, Sue is a devoted and compassionate teacher that has made learning an exciting and rewarding experience for her students. I am honored to recognize her commitment to teaching Colorado's children for 21 years before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you for your service Sue, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marjorie Long, a retired teacher from Delta, Colorado who recently celebrated her ninety-ninth birthday. A lifelong teacher, Marjorie has compiled a long record of service and dedication to her fellow Coloradans. It is my privilege to recognize her service today before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Marjorie taught her students more than just English and Mathematics, instilling in them a desire to do their very best. She was a commanding presence in the classroom whose lessons were the foundation of students that went on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, businessmen, and judges. Her students respected and admired her; several of them continue to demonstrate their respect by calling, writing and looking her up when they pass through the area. Upon retirement Marjorie took up cooking for the ranch hands that worked the family farm and became an active and distinguished member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Mr. Speaker, Marjorie Long is a dedicated public servant who has bettered her community by enriching the lives of Colorado students. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation today to recognize her many years of service and hard work. Thank you for your devotion to education Marjorie, and I wish you a happy ninety- ninth birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Palisade Lions Club stilt walkers who have walked in parades all over the country, to bring attention to the Colorado peach industry and the benevolent goals of the Colorado Lions Club. Their efforts continue to distinguish the heritage of Palisade, Colorado and a statue to commemorate the walkers was recently dedicated to the town on its centennial anniversary. It is my privilege in recognizing their accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation.

The original five stilt walkers included Gene Taylor, Ray Denison, Bob Ames, and Hampton and Lyndon Granat. The stilts were functionally used to prune the higher sections of fruit trees, but after their first appearance in a parade in 1955 they became the symbol of the Lions Club International and the Colorado peach industry. Together the stilt walkers and their wives made their own costumes and traveled to parades in Chicago, New York City, and numerous local Colorado events, grabbing the attention of newspapers all across the country.

Mr. Speaker, the original stilt walkers of the Palisade Lions Club have since passed away, but their memory lives on in the community and the peach industry as the town of Palisade celebrates its centennial this year. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation and recognize their unique heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Kris Gardner, a skillful business manager and dedicated member of her Glenwood Springs, Colorado community. Kris has devoted over thirty years to Alpine Bank and I am proud to stand here with my colleagues before this body of Congress and this Nation today to recognize her many years of service.

The first female bank president of Alpine Bank, Kris' talent and dedication has made much of Alpine Bank's success possible through the years. Over the course of her career she has been named Businesswoman of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce from 1980 through 1983. She has served on the Glenwood Springs

Chamber of Commerce, is the past director of the Colorado Bankers Association, and is an appointee of Colorado Governor Bill Owens as a member of the Fire and Police Pension Association. Kris is a strong role model for her peers and colleagues, leading by example in her community.

Mr. Speaker, Kris Gardner has persistently worked to better her community through service and hard work for over 30 years with Alpine Bank. I am honored to recognize her contributions to the town of Glenwood Springs before this body of Congress and this nation. Thanks for all your hard work, Kris, and I wish you and your family all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise and pay tribute to a tremendous public servant from my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. Kristi Knowles was recently nominated as Grand Junction, Colorado's ``Officer of the Year''; it is my honor to call her heroic service to the attention of this body of Congress and this Nation.

Kristi began her service to the City of Grand Junction in July of 1999, signing on as a telecommunicator with the Regional Communication Center. She rose quickly through the ranks eventually earning a position as a sworn police officer in the Grand Junction Police Department's Patrol Section. Since assuming this role, Kristi has continually exhibited a unique commitment to the job and people she is sworn to protect and defend.

Overtime, Kristi has distinguished herself in cases involving domestic violence. Kristi always goes above and beyond the call of duty by comforting victims of domestic violence and ensuring they have access to community resources. Kristi even went so far as to reach out to the staff at the Latimer House to ensure that she was doing everything she could to help the victim.

Community policing is truly a community effort, and Kristi Knowles has certainly done her part. She is a shining example to officers throughout the nation of the passion and concern, which is so vital to accomplishing the mission given to our law enforcement officials each day. It is my honor to congratulate Kristi before my colleagues in the Congress. Her recognition is well-deserved, and I wish her nothing but the best as she continues to serve the Grand Junction community. Thank you for your service, Kristi!

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Andy Fautheree, a dedicated Veterans Service officer from Archuleta County, Colorado. He has made a difference in the lives of Colorado veterans and I have the privilege of standing before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize his impeccable record of service.

Andy began working for the veterans service three years ago, and in that short time has made numerous strides in improving the lives of veterans in Archuleta County. He has increased the number of enrolled veterans receiving compensation and pension claims from 750 to 1,300 and has streamlined many of the procedural hassles of paperwork by entering the data in computer programs that are now utilized throughout the state. Andy helps veterans to go after lost medals, acquire life and health insurance, education benefits, and income-based pensions. For his efforts Andy received the 2004 Outstanding Veterans Service Officer award from the Colorado Department of Veterans Affairs for his outstanding commitment and improved service to the veterans of Archuleta County.

Mr. Speaker, Andy Fautheree has shown an amazing dedication in helping Colorado's veterans. He has improved the lives of members of his community and I am honored to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation today. Keep up the good work Andy, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend J.D. Lunsford from my district as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement from the plumbing and heating business. Lunsford Brothers Mechanical Contractors of Grand Junction, Colorado, stands as a tribute to its founder and his 35 years of dedication to his community. It is my pleasure to congratulate J.D. before this body of Congress and this Nation on a job well done.

A devout member of the First Assembly of God Church, J.D. began his family business with a skill and a prayer. After almost a decade as an employee for another mechanical contractor, J.D. received his master plumber's license and began looking for an opportunity to go out on his own in the plumbing and heating business. With only $2,000 saved for supplies and materials, J.D. founded Lunsford Brothers Mechanical Contractors. J.D. immediately went to work on a 42-unit condominium in the Colorado Mountains shortly before the beginning of the ski season, coming through in the clutch and firmly establishing a reputation for solid workmanship. Growing Lunsford Brothers into a successful business is the realization of a powerful dream and the beginning of a family tradition of service to the Grand Junction community.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to bring J.D. Lunsford to the attention of my colleagues before this venerable body. I would like to join Lunsford Brothers' 45 employees in wishing J.D. luck in what hopes to be a happy and productive retirement. Small businesses like Lunsford Brothers are the backbone of our Nation and encompass the spirit of American enterprise. Congratulations, J.D., and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mancel Page, a dedicated watchmaker from Grand Junction, Colorado. Mancel is retiring at the age of 81 after 40 years in the jewelry business, and I want to take this opportunity to recognize his many years of service to his community before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Mancel came by the jewelry business naturally. His mother's uncle was a jeweler in Germany, and Mancel began taking apart and repairing clocks when he was ten years old. His store, Page Parsons Jewelers, located on the main street of downtown Grand Junction, was founded in 1895 and is one of the oldest businesses in the city. Mancel, grew up repairing clocks and loving sports. He played basketball for his school in Missouri and during the time he served in the military during World War II. Athletics are something outside of work that he still makes time to enjoy.

While in the military Mancel worked at a local jewelry store and then went on to college to study gemology before becoming a certified gemologist. Mancel and his wife Anna moved to Grand Junction in 1950 and bought the jewelry store in 1964. Through the decades Mancel has enjoyed great success. Mancel is also active in Grand Junction community organizations such as the Downtown Development Authority, and the downtown merchant's association that have been instrumental in revitalizing the downtown area to be more customer friendly.

Mr. Speaker, Mancel Page has dedicated 40 years to the jewelry business and his efforts in the Grand Junction community are highly commendable. I am honored to recognize his many years of service before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you for all your hard work Mancel, and I wish you, your wife Anna, and your daughter Peggy all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Rebecca Frank from Grand Junction, Colorado. Rebecca has dedicated her career to representing and informing the people of her county and the State of Colorado in her capacity with the Grand Junction Sentinel and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing her tremendous service and achievements before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Rebecca Frank served as the News Editor for the Grand Junction Sentinel where she has always performed her job with excellence and integrity, keeping the people of Grand Junction well informed of community, state, and world events. In 1985, she decided to expand her interests and left the paper to join the Colorado Division of Wildlife Commission in 1985. Currently she represents the Northwest District Colorado where she served as Chairwoman in 1987 and 1988. In addition to her duties, at the Division of Wildlife Commission, Rebecca has given several hours of her time to Grand Junction's business community. She has served as a member of the Mesa County Economic Development Council, the Grand Junction Planning Commission and both the Grand Junction and Mesa County Riverfront Commissions. She also served on the board the Grand Junction United Way and currently volunteers with Catholic Charities.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Rebecca Frank for her exceptional service to the people of Grand Junction and Colorado. She has dedicated her life to bettering her community, and it is with great pleasure that I recognize her today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thanks for your service, Rebecca, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Rich Englehart and thank him for his exceptional contributions to his community and the State of Colorado as Delta City Manager. He will always be remembered as a dedicated public servant and leader of his community. As Rich celebrates his retirement, let it be known that he leaves behind a terrific legacy of commitment to the people of Delta and the State of Colorado.

For nearly twenty years Rich has played an important role in municipal government. As City Manager, Rich is responsible for implementing the policy and procedure that the City Council makes. He also advises the City Council on all matters relating to the planning, development and operating status of the city departments. His good nature and guidance have done much to help grow the city, and foster good working relationships between civic, business, and municipal leaders. An avid outdoorsman, Rich participates in a variety of sports, including playing baseball for the Mesa State Mavericks.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Rich Englehart has ceaselessly dedicated his time and efforts to serving his county and the people of Colorado as City Manager for Delta. I am honored to bring his hard work and commitment to the attention of this body of Congress and this nation today. Thank you for all your service Rich, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gary Harmon from Grand Junction, Colorado. Gary is a journalist with the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, and has served the paper, city and state with distinction. I know Gary well, and he is a man of the utmost integrity. I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing his dedication and leadership before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Gary attended Casper College and California State University in Long Beach where he studied journalism. He went on to work at three different newspapers before moving to Grand Junction in 1987 to join the staff at the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Gary is a hard-working journalist who won nationally prestigious John Hancock Award for Business and Financial Reporting in 1989 for an eight part series on workers' compensation. He has also won several news writing and column- writing awards from several Colorado and California press associations and the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters. Gary is the father of two sons, whom he is actively involved in teaching to play basketball.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Gary Harmon for his exceptional service to the people of Grand Junction and Colorado. For many years, his dedication to his community and journalistic integrity has made the Grand Junction Sentinel a thriving and influential news source. It is with great pleasure that I recognize him today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thanks for your service, Gary, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bob Silbernagel from Grand Junction, Colorado. Bob is the Editorial Page Editor for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, and has served the paper, city and state with distinction. I know Bob well, and he is a man of the utmost integrity. I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing his dedication and commitment to his community and the field of journalism before this body of Congress and this Nation.

Bob studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin, and went on to work for a number of weekly newspapers before moving on to the Glenwood Post Independent. In 1980, he joined the staff at the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Bob has been closely involved in writing and publication of the Colorado Riverfront Commission's People, Parks and Trails: A guide and history for the Colorado Riverfront Trail in Mesa County.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Bob Silbernagel for his exceptional service to the people of Grand Junction and Colorado. For many years, his dedication to his community and journalistic integrity has made the Grand Junction Sentinel a thriving and influential news source. It is with great pleasure that I recognize him today before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thanks for your service, Bob, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.