Scott McInnis

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Milton Dial, a talented and dedicated Deputy Associate Director of the Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service whose service will be missed upon his retirement. In this capacity, Milton has been responsible for the oversight of natural resources transactions between the Federal Government and the industry. Milton has been a faithful servant of the Department of the Interior and steward of our public lands for 32 years, and I am honored to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation. Milton received both his bachelor of science and masters degree in business administration from Arizona State University, and immediately began working as a supervisor auditor for the Inspector General's office from 1971 to 1979. He later moved over to the mineral management division where he has served in numerous positions such as deputy conservation manager for offshore royalty with the U.S. Geological Survey, senior technical advisor to the associate director, chief of the Royalty Compliance and the Valuation and Standards divisions, and manager of the royalty in-kind program at Minerals Management Service. Mr. Speaker, Milton Dial is an industrious public servant who has always gone the extra mile to make sure that the job is done quickly and appropriately. I, along with my fellow Americans am indebted to him for his dedicated service to the management of our public lands. It is a privilege to recognize his efforts before this body of Congress and this Nation. Thank you for all your hard work, Milton, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to mourn the passing of Bruce Rockwell of Denver, Colorado. Bruce dedicated his life to improving his community, and the entire City of Denver is indebted to him for his service. His enthusiasm for serving others resonates throughout Colorado, and I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing Bruce for his tremendous service to the City of Denver before this body of Congress and this nation. Bruce grew up on Marion Street in Denver and came from a strong family that made community service a vital part of their daily lives. Bruce's father ran a small real estate and insurance business and was a respected ornithologist. His family was of modest means but constantly thought of those less fortunate than themselves, often feeding the unemployed from their own kitchen. Bruce put himself through Yale University on various military scholarships. Bruce was devoted to the development of downtown Denver, spearheading the creation of Downtown Denver, Inc. and playing a crucial role in the development of the Sixteenth Street Mall. From 1954 to 1968, he chaired the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and aided the preservation of Larimer Square. At the same time, while serving as the CEO of Colorado National Bank, Bruce loaned talented developers the money to buy and restore numerous historic buildings. Mr. Speaker, Bruce Rockwell set a new standard for community service and his deeds have touched nearly every community institution in Denver. His model of leadership and service will be hard to replace. I am honored to recognize the efforts of such a devoted public servant before this body of Congress. My thoughts and prayers go out to Bruce's friends and family during this time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of David Thomson, a lifelong Boy Scout, dedicated patriot and beloved community activist who recently passed away at the age of 87. David died at his home in Redstone, Colorado after a lifetime of service to Colorado and the nation. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this nation and recognize his service and accomplishments. David was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey in 1917, and attended his first Boy Scout Jamboree in 1937. After he attained his Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver status with the Boy Scouts he met Shirley in 1940 and married her two years later. Together with their three children John, Janet, and JoAnn they lived in North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas where David served in the Marine Corps as an aircraft mechanic instructor during World War II. After the war, the family spent fourteen months in Lima, Peru while David was an inspector for Pan American. When his stint in Peru was completed, the family settled in Golden where David took swing shifts at the Gates Rubber Plant as he finished his coursework to complete his college degree. In 1952, David completed his degree and applied to the Boy Scouts' Western Colorado Council to serve as a district executive in Grand Junction. After 20 years of long hours on nights and weekends, David retired to Redstone. There he served as a substitute teacher for the Roaring Fork School District and operated a small library that was used to give story hours on Saturday mornings. David and his wife Shirley were very active in their local church, which prompted the pastor to name them true ``visionaries''. Despite his busy career, David always maintained his service with the Boy Scouts, acting as a mentor and fundraiser for the Western Colorado Council. Mr. Speaker, David Thomson was an honorable, kind, and genuine soul who lived a long and full life doing what he loved. He touched the lives of many who have been fortunate enough to cross his path, and I am privileged to recognize the life of such a tremendous public servant. My thoughts and prayers go out to David's family and friends during this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Palisade, Colorado. This year marks the celebration of its first centennial, a rare and distinguished achievement. The story of Palisade is one of success, a farming town that thrived around the mouth of a river. As they celebrate their one hundred year anniversary, I would like to join my colleagues here today, before this body of Congress and this nation, in recognizing the town of Palisade, Colorado. Settlers first started establishing homesteads on the land in the early 1880s. The land that would become the town of Palisade was desirable because it was located close to the mouth of Rapid Creek, making irrigation easier for the fruit farming that would soon thrive. The town of Palisade began to prosper, and with sufficient growth, Palisade became an incorporated town in 1904. Over the last hundred years, Palisade has seen many of the same changes and attributes of growth characteristic of similar American communities. With the advent of the industrial revolution in America at the turn of the twentieth century, the town saw a boom in its coal mining industry. However, Palisade is primarily known for its fruit orchards. During prohibition, the grape farmers and wine makers suffered hardships, but found success once again when prohibition was lifted. The community infrastructure has grown strong over the years as new friendships were established through common threads by the formation of many social organizations. Mr. Speaker, after one hundred years, Palisade, Colorado continues to experience success as a tight-knit community. The social institutions and economic infrastructure account for the many years of existence. Our nation was built upon the strong foundation of small communities like Palisade. I congratulate the city of Palisade, Colorado for this important anniversary and wish the community the best in the future.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to mourn the life of a remarkable lady from New Castle, Colorado. Alma Murr passed away at the age of ninety-seven this past May. She left a strong impression on all those whom she met, and her life is an example of the constant change and growth that our great country made in the past century. I am honored to stand here with my colleagues before this body and this nation to recognize her life. Alma was born in 1906 in Madison County, Nebraska, and at a young age began to deal with big changes and responsibilities when the family moved to Lander, Wyoming. When Alma was ten years old, her father died of pneumonia, which put her in charge of raising her younger brothers and sisters while her mother worked as a cook at the Shoshone and Bannock Indian reservations. In 1917, the family moved in a covered wagon to Meeker, Colorado, where Alma attended and graduated from high school. At twenty-one, Alma married Orel Murr and the couple farmed on Beaver Creek, and Rifle before finding their true home near New Castle on Colorado's Western Slope. Alma and Orel had a working fruit orchard with apples, plums, nectarines, apricots, peaches and all sorts of berries. They sold their produce at their family-run Peach Valley Market, or at a second family- run market in the Fort Collins area, and to wholesale markets in nearby states. When they had to close the fruit market, the couple turned to raising hay. With their hard, painstaking work, Alma and Orel raised three children on the eighteen-acre Peach Valley Homestead where Alma has lived for sixty-nine years. Alma was a caring person who leaves behind a large family that loved her for her spirit, and kindness--she was the type of person with whom it was easy to become friends. She is survived by her sons Robert and Richard, her daughter Phyllis, her sister Evelyn, fourteen grand children, eighteen great grand children, and one great great grandchild. Mr. Speaker, Alma Murr was a kind and generous soul who touched the lives of many of the people who met her. She was a strong woman that led by example and helped to nourish the members of her Colorado community with great devotion and satisfaction in her work. I am honored to recognize her life before this body of Congress and this nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to Alma's family and friends at this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to mourn the death of Ann Gorsuch Buford, who recently passed away at the age of sixty-two after a long bout with cancer. She possessed a strong intellect that she utilized to become an eloquent and passionate environmental advocate. President Ronald Reagan appointed her as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency where she brought economic and fiscal discipline to the agency. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize her many accomplishments. Ann was born in Casper, Wyoming, but spent most of her life growing up in Denver, Colorado. She earned both her masters and law degrees from the University of Colorado by the time she was twenty-one, and went on to study in India for a year on a Fulbright Scholarship. After completing her studies, Ann served as an assistant district attorney in Denver and Jefferson counties before being elected to the Colorado state House of Representatives in 1976. She spent 4 years leading the initiative to cut the grocery sales tax and stiffen criminal sentences, and was named outstanding freshman legislator. In 1980, when Reagan was elected president, Ann was selected to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), making her the second highest- ranking woman in the Reagan Administration. At the EPA, Ann was able to efficiently cut-down on government waste inside the executive agency while enforcing environmental regulations. When she left Washington, Ann returned to a Denver law practice working primarily on children's advocacy. She is survived by her mother, Dorothy O'Grady McGill, her children, Neil, Stephanie, and J.J. Gorsuch, five grandchildren, her brother, Joe McGill, and her sisters, Mary Edwards, Theresa Peace, Dorothy McGill, Veronica Urban, and Rosie Binge. Mr. Speaker, Ann Gorsuch Burford was a diligent public servant of this Nation, who worked to improve the quality of our air and water in Colorado and the Nation. I am honored to recognize her before this body of Congress today. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family at this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to mourn the passing of Palmer Smith of Alamosa, Colorado. Palmer recently died unexpectedly of a suspected pulmonary embolism. He was a lifelong learner and dedicated activist in his community who shared his knowledge with countless students. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this nation to recognize his life and accomplishments. Palmer was born in 1932 in Los Angeles, California. He attended the California Institute of Technology where he studied chemistry under five Nobel Prize winners before enlisting in the Air Force. At Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, he taught the top secret 1009th Special Weapons Project. In 1956, Palmer continued his education at the University of Colorado at Boulder in a mathematics masters degree program, despite his lack of a bachelor's degree. Palmer also taught in the applied mathematics program at CU for five years as he worked on a doctorate before he went on to teach at Nichols State College. In 1962, Palmer returned to Colorado to teach and chair the mathematics department at Adams State College where he received emeritus status after retiring in 1987. After teaching, Palmer became involved in buying and selling real estate, and ran for Alamosa County treasurer. He continued to take courses in law, taxes, and bonds and investments from the local college. Palmer was a renaissance man with a wide variety of interests that ranged from archaeology and history to stamp collecting. He was a concert pianist, an avid reader, and a writer. Palmer is survived by his wife, Erin Macgillivray Smith, his daughter, Laura Suzanne Smith, his son, Brian Smith, his granddaughter Sara Powell and two great grandchildren, Zachary and Allison Powell. Mr. Speaker, Palmer Franklin Smith was a dedicated student and educator that made learning a passion in his life. He was a committed patron of the arts and active member of his Alamosa community. I am honored to recognize the life of such a devoted community servant before this body of Congress and this nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to Palmer's family and friends during this time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to an impressive group of community leaders from Pueblo, Colorado. These men, driven by a desire to serve their community and promote economic development in the city of Pueblo, began meeting every week for lunch to discuss problems, and solutions, for issues facing their community. As a result, Gus' Gang has been meeting now for over thirty-five years and although the membership has changed over the years. Their service and loyalty to the community remains a constant. Gus' Gang is a group of local businessmen, lawyers, bankers, realtors, and public officials that meet every Friday afternoon to encourage companies to consider Pueblo when establishing, expanding, or relocating their business. The group invites corporate executives to lunch and encourages them to locate their companies in Pueblo by welcoming and introducing them to leaders in the community. Many achievements in Pueblo have been born out of Gus' Gang meetings such as the creation of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, and the idea and approval to locate the Colorado Lottery Office in Pueblo. The unusual but highly effective meeting venue, Gus', has been recognized in several publications and media outlets such as The Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The National Geographic and Ripley's Believe It or Not, for its western atmosphere and good hometown spirits. Some of the founding members of Gus' Gang include: Tommy Thompson, Director of the Southeastern Water Conservancy District; Bob Ellis, the Vice President of First National Bank; Jade McGuire, the President of the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce; and Walt Bassett, President and CEO of Bassett Construction. Mr. Speaker, Gus' Gang is a staple of the Pueblo community, and their persistent efforts to attract businesses and corporations to Pueblo has helped strengthen their community and the Colorado economy. Gus' Gang is a terrific group of dedicated, innovative individuals. It is my privileged and honor to recognize their accomplishments and service before Congress and this Nation. I thank the members of Gus' Gang for all their hard work and commitment, and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise before this body of Congress and this nation to recognize the dedication of Kendall Evans of Aspen, Colorado for his hard work and dedication in educating our youth. After serving nine years as the principal for Aspen High School, Kendall announced his retirement after the completion of the 2004-2005 academic year. As Kendall prepares for retirement, let it be known that I, along with the Aspen community am grateful for the commitment he has shown to educating our next generation of leaders. Kendall started his career in education as a high school teacher thirty-one years ago. After spending much of his career positively influencing students in the classroom, he had the opportunity to have a different impact working in administration. Nine years ago, Kendall accepted the job as the principal at Aspen High School. During his tenure as principal, Kendall has led the charge to improve the quality of and access to education in the area. Following his lead, the school added accelerated classes as part of the International Baccalaureate program. His most significant achievement was to complete the forty-one million dollar renovation and expansion of the high school. Mr. Speaker, Kendall Evans has done a remarkable job during his career at Aspen High School. As principal, he has provided tremendous leadership for the faculty, and as a teacher, he has provided insight for his students. I thank him for his commitment to education, and wish him all the best in his last year at Aspen High School.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Doug Aden, a dedicated banker from my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. After thirty-four years of service to the Grand Junction community as a regional vice president for the western slope division of U.S. Bank, Doug will be retiring from a longtime career of aiding customers. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this nation today to recognize his accomplishments. In 1970, just one week after his college graduation. Doug began his banking career in Billings, Montana. He spent his entire life working with various companies that are part of U.S. Bancorp, a parent company to U.S. Bank. Doug worked for the Grand Junction branch since 1990. Throughout the course of his service, Doug saw rebirth and growth of the economy across the Western Slope. In addition to his many years at the bank, Doug has served on the Colorado Transportation Commission and the Mesa County Public Library District Board of Directors, and he actively works with his church's capital campaign. Mr. Speaker, Doug Aden is a tremendous member of the Grand Junction business community who has made customer service in his banking industry a priority. I am honored to rise before this body and recognize his many contributions to the State of Colorado. Good luck with your retirement, Doug, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Emerson School in Grand Junction, Colorado. This school has educated students from Grand Junction for over a century and I am proud to join my colleagues here today before this body of Congress and this nation in recognizing this tremendous institution. The Emerson School is the oldest building still owned by the in Mesa County Valley School District 51 that is still standing. It was constructed in 1903 during the initial phases of Grand Junction's planning when the town fathers divided the area into quarters and set aside land in each one for a park and a school. Although the school went through some name changes, and is now being used for administration offices, it has for the majority of its existence been reserved for elementary school students. Mr. Speaker, Emerson School is an institution in Grand Junction that has been used for the important role of educating the youth of Colorado. Their presence in Grand Junction has been a wonderful benefit to the community and the country as these young children go on to future aspirations throughout our great country. I am honored to recognize Emerson School before this body and this nation for their devotion and commitment to education. Congratulations on your celebration of a century of service and thank you for all your hard work and dedication.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to pay tribute to Mark Burget of Boulder, Colorado and his hard work to advance the goals of The Nature Conservancy. Recently, Mark announced he would be leaving his position as the Colorado Director of the Nature Conservancy and moving on to The Nature Conservancy Director of the Global Priority Group. As he moves on in his career, I am honored to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation. Mark spent his childhood in Chester County, Pennsylvania. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, and his master's in business and Juris Doctoris degree from the University of Virginia, he began his work for the Nature Conservancy in 1992. Soon after, he accepted the appointment as Colorado State Director for the Nature Conservancy. He was Colorado Director for eleven years, where he worked hard to protect 416,000 acres of natural land in Colorado. His new position with the Nature Conservancy will be the Director of the Global Priority Group, where he will work to identify and to act on the most urgent needs for conservation across the globe. Mr. Speaker, Mike will serve The Nature Conservancy well in his new capacity. He has already done much to protect natural lands in the state of Colorado, and I am confident he will continue to build upon this proud legacy. I congratulate Mike on his new job and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor Ray Domenico of Welby, Colorado. Ray recently passed away from a stomach illness at the age of seventy-four. He will be remembered as the consummate farmer and a true American patriot. It is my privilege to recognize the life and memory of Ray before this body of Congress and this nation. Ray was born and raised on a farm in Welby, Colorado. Following high school, Ray enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served our country on a destroyer during the Korean War. After returning from the war, Ray returned to his roots and worked on his family farm. Ray spent many hours out of the day cultivating both fruits and vegetables. He was known for his work ethic, and he instilled the ethic in his children by leading through example. For Ray, family was the most important part of his life. When he returned home from the Korean War he married Agnes in 1954. Ray and Agnes had known each other for most of their lives, since Agnes grew up on the neighboring farm. The couple raised a large family of thirteen children, with an even larger second generation comprised of thirty- eight grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, the Welby community will sorely miss Ray Domenico. Throughout the farm community, he will be known for his hard work and dedication to the cultivation of his crops. In this difficult time of bereavement, I wish to express my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, to place your life in danger for the safety of your fellow citizens is an honorable and noble task, and our police officers do this on a regular basis. Commander Mike O'Neill of the Denver Police Department is one such hero, and after thirty-seven years of dedicated service, he recently announced his retirement. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the important role he has played in protecting the citizens of Colorado before this body of Congress and this nation. At the point in Mike's youth when it came time to commit to his future and decide his vocation, he decided to become a police officer. The choice was obvious for him considering his father had also served as a police officer. In 1967, Mike joined the Denver Police Department working in the city's second district. During his thirty-seven year career, he has worked in units covering drugs and gangs, shifts covering night and day, and he has held positions as district commander, division chief and head of the police academy. As he embarks on retirement, he finishes his career in patrolling the same district where he began. After over thirty years with the department, he can take pride in knowing he has carried on his family's proud legacy of commitment to serving others. In his retirement, he and his wife Suzy, another former police officer, can enjoy a more relaxing pace to their lives. Mr. Speaker, Commander Mike O'Neill has shown tremendous leadership and honor throughout his career with the Denver Police Department. Mike consistently exhibited selflessness to put the safety of the people he served first and foremost. It is my pleasure to recognize his career before this body of Congress and this nation. I thank him for his hard work and commitment to his fellow citizens and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated volunteer fireman from La Junta, Colorado. Rodney Davidson Jr. is the recipient of the Volunteer Fireman of the Year award for his position as a role model for future firefighters. Rodney provides an invaluable service to his community and I am honored to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation. Rodney has spent more than twenty years as a volunteer fireman with the John Fisher Hose Company. When he joined the company in 1984, he was following in the footsteps of his father who currently serves as fire chief and several other family members who served as volunteers. Rodney is the president of the company, an organization that is dedicated to recruiting volunteer fire fighters that dates back to 1883. He is also a certified pyrotechnician and helps with local fireworks displays every year. Mr. Speaker, Rodney Davidson, Jr. is a dedicated volunteer that risks his own health and safety so that others may live. His work has taken him away from his family and friends on several occasions and he has served as a role model offering leadership and guidance in his community. I am honored to recognize him today before this body and this nation for his devotion and commitment to aiding those in need. He serves as a valuable role model for all fire fighters. Congratulations on your award Rodney and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a kind and caring individual from Montrose, Colorado who is brightening the spirits of American soldiers in Iraq. Landy Taylor is reminding our troops that we support them and their noble mission, and I am proud to join my colleagues here today before this body of Congress and this Nation in recognizing his tremendous generosity and good will. After receiving an email from Duane Ziegler, the chief of the Montrose Regional Airport fire department who is serving in Iraq with the Colorado National Guard, about the tough battlefront conditions Landy decided to start Operation Sweet Tooth. He figured that candy would help lift the soldiers spirits and so he began to buy cases of candy, elk jerky, and other items and ship them off to the troops. Landy himself, is a former aviation executive and a veteran of the Army and wanted to be able to let our troops know of our Nation's support. Since the initial shipment of more than seven thousand pieces of candy, Landy, and his wife Marta have shipped hundreds of pounds of candy and over 800 pounds of elk jerky. He often sends care packages daily and sometimes picks up the shipping costs of up to $300 a week out of his own pocket. Most of the candy and snacks that are shipped go to four different military hospitals in Baghdad where they are distributed to patients, soldiers and Iraqi children. Mr. Speaker, Landy Taylor is a generous individual who is actively involved in lifting the spirits of our American soldiers and demonstrating how much we appreciate their efforts in Iraq. He has inspired other citizens and friends within his community to aid the troops and I am honored to recognize him today before this body and this Nation for his devotion and commitment to our American soldiers. Thank you for your generosity Landy, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker I rise today to pay tribute to a renowned ski racer from Aspen, Colorado. Stein Erikson has been a great ambassador for the sport of skiing and inspires many Americans and ski enthusiasts around the world. I am privileged to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize his accomplishments and commitment to the sport of skiing. Initially Stein moved to Aspen from Norway in 1958 and has been racing and instructing skiers ever since. Stein won a gold and silver medal in the giant slalom, and slalom for the Norwegian ski team in the 1952 Oslo Olympics and several medals from the 1950 and 1954 World Championships. He is best known however for his ski school instruction. He began teaching at Boyne Mountain, Michigan and then moved to Heavenly Valley, California before landing at Aspen Highlands in Snowmass ski school. Recently Stein was inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the sport over the years. Stein is famous for his execution of an aerial somersault that has since been dubbed the X games of the early days in Aspen ski history. He was the first skier to perform a forward flip or Moby flip that helped to usher in the beginning of freestyle skiing. Stein, who was knighted by the King of Norway in 1997 for his contributions to his home country's favorite sport remains an active fixture in the American skiing scene. Not only did he ski every day last ski season but he can outpace many skiers half his age and his trademark Norwegian sweaters that he made popular fifty years ago continue to warm skiers today. Mr. Speaker Stein Erikson is an internationally accomplished skier that has been a great ambassador for his sport and inspired many Americans to chase after their dreams. He has enriched the lives of the members of his Aspen community and I am honored to recognize his achievements before this body of Congress and this nation today. Congratulations on your induction Stein, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable man named Bill Otto who epitomizes the true cowboy in the spirit of the west. He has led an amazing life and I am privileged to stand here before this body of Congress and this nation today to recognize his accomplishments. Bill comes from a rich western history where he grew up on his father's ranch that had been homesteaded since 1904. His family had been in the ranching business for years and his grandmother used to cook for Teddy Roosevelt and helped bury Calamity Jane. As Bill's brothers and sisters went to school, he trained horses, and by the time Bill was fifteen he was rated as one of the best horse trainers in North Dakota. Bill gained a reputation for riding the wildest horses as he spent the summers working for the Civilian Conservation Corps. After running the family ranch for a short period at age eighteen, Bill moved to California. He earned his living by grooming horses and working at a boarding stable, and later for a company that owned and rented horses used in the movies. Through a stroke of luck Bill ended up filling in for Jack Conners in a film with Roy Rogers. In 1943, Bill left Hollywood to work at a thoroughbred ranch in Valejo, California where he met his first wife Rella. Bill has spent the remainder of his life working in the Rodeo, training horses, and raising his four kids. Mr. Speaker, Bill Otto is a talented horse trainer and dedicated family man who brings the heart of the west to life. I am honored to recognize Bill for his great zest for life and his dedication to keeping western traditions alive, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and memory of Aileen Warfield of Pueblo, Colorado. Aileen recently passed away at the age of seventy-eight. She will be remembered for her commitment to her family and her contributions to her community. I would like to join my colleagues in recognizing her life and her memory before this body of Congress and this nation. Aileen's passion was working at her candy store, Nettie's Colorado Candies. The origins of Nettie's Colorado Candies can be traced back to the 1930's, and Aileen and her husband, Ray Warfield bought the candy store in 1971. They had no experience in the business, but Aileen wished to undertake the challenge of owning and operating a small business. Once the Warfields assumed control, they made it into a family business employing most of their children over the years. What originated as a hobby, turned into a busy job. Aileen worked six days a week and was an active member of the RCI, the Retail Confectioners International. Aileen dedicated her time and energies to her family and her community. She was a member of the Mesa Junction Association, a board member of the Parade of Lights committee and the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Speaker, Aileen Warfield was a beloved member of her community and I am honored to remember her life today. Her work ethic and friendly face at the candy store will be sorely missed in the Grand Junction community. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Aileen's family and friends during this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Gunnison Water Commission in Gunnison, Colorado. The water commissioners aid citizens and friends to efficiently and effectively use the precious resource of water. I am honored to recognize their contributions to their community before this body of Congress and this nation today. This year the Gunnison Water Commission will celebrate one hundred and twenty-five years of serving the Western slope of Colorado. The water commissioners bring both a wealth of knowledge and experience to their field and a true sense of dedication to helping the public understand how the water system works throughout the state. The water commissioners work partial year contracts mostly in the summer when water is in high use for irrigation and the snow has melted. They collect data on how much water flows through streams or ditches; inspect headgates, flumes and springs, and during particularly dry times, undertake the difficult task of enforcing water rights. These hard working commissioners have improved their efficiency field by adding global positioning system technology and many other modern capabilities to facilitate better tracking and locating procedures for water in their districts. Mr. Speaker, the Gunnison water commissioners work hard and take pride in the stewardship of a precious resource, and I am confident that the Gunnison community is grateful for their dedication. It is a privilege to bring the contributions of these fine water commissioners to light before this body of Congress. I thank them for their service and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise and pay tribute to Rodolfo ``Rudy'' Arguello of San Pedro, Colorado. Rudy has shown tremendous dedication and commitment to the citizens of our country. I commend his service in our military, and I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating him on his recent appointment to the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs. A native of San Acacio, Colorado, Rudy began his military service when he joined the Air Force in 1956. His military career included working as a linguist, a teacher, and an intelligence officer. He served our country in Vietnam, and retired from active service in 1979 as a captain. However, his retirement from the Air Force did not mark the end of his career in the military. Wishing to continue to serve this nation, he joined the Veterans Affairs and went on to work as an administrator at the Fort Lyon veteran's hospital, a deputy director for the Department of Defense, and a manager of a modernization project at Fort Carson. Throughout his military career, he took time to further his education, receiving a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree. With his extensive experience, Rudy is a perfect candidate for the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to thank Rudy for his service to this nation and to congratulate him on his appointment to the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs. Rudy stands out for his efforts in answering the call to serve his nation. He is a very loyal citizen and a solid family man and is a true pillar of his community. I thank him for his service and wish him and his wife Casey all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to pay tribute to Dr. Marlene DeMaio of Edgewater, Maryland and congratulate her on receiving the Frank Brown Berry Prize in Federal Health Care for her exceptional contributions to medicine. Dr. DeMaio, who is the first female to be recognized with this high honor, has shown an outstanding commitment to our nation's armed forces while serving in the United States Navy as a surgeon and medical researcher in body armor technology. It is with great satisfaction that I recognize Dr. DeMaio for her well-deserved award and acknowledge her many accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation today. Her service to the Navy and to the nation has been exemplary. While researching at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Dr. DeMaio worked tirelessly to improve body armor for our soldiers. She realized there was an important need for improving body armor when she learned from some of her Navy SEALS patients that they would remove their body armor because they found it burdensome and noisy. Her breakthroughs in body armor technology came through using more realistic models that more accurately measured the impact of various weaponry on body armor. This method of testing is responsible for the improvements in the Interceptor Body Armor in use today, which has saved countless lives and resulted in fewer chest and abdominal injuries to our nation's troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. A captain in the United States Navy, Dr. DeMaio is currently serving at the U.S. Naval Academy Clinic in Annapolis, Maryland. She has received an appointment to the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and serves as Chair of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine and Podiatry at the United States Naval Academy. In the past, she has worked as an assistant professor of surgery in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In addition, she has served on various medical boards and has authored significant academic papers. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Marlene DeMaio has shown a tremendous dedication to our military and diligence in the field of research medicine. Her contributions have done much for the safety and well-being of our troops, and are worthy of recognition before this body of Congress and this nation today. It is my privilege to extend to Dr. DeMaio my sincere congratulations on receiving the 2004 Frank Brown Berry Prize in Federal Healthcare, and to wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated sports-medicine pioneer and U.S. Ski-team trainer from Aspen, Colorado. Tage Pederson has helped to train athletes and promote the sport of skiing in Colorado for years, and I am privileged to stand here today before this body of Congress and this nation to recognize his accomplishments. Tage initially immigrated to Aspen from Denmark in 1956 where he became the assistant director, and then director of the Aspen Institute Health and Fitness Center until 1983. While at the Institute, Tage's Danish schooling in physical education to develop ski training and physical therapy regimens caught the attention of several Olympic racers. He believed that motion was a requirement for a speedy recovery from injury and is actually responsible for many of the early rehabilitation programs that existed before orthopedics and medicine. In 1968 Tage was invited to become the official U.S. Ski Team trainer and worked with the U.S. Alpine team until 1980 and the Nordic Team until 1985. He accompanied the teams to four Olympic games and four World Championships as an unpaid volunteer. One of the biggest moments of his career as a sports-trainer was aiding Billy Kidd to overcome back problems in the 1970 Amateur World Championships to win the gold medal in the combined event that contained the longest slalom in the history of the sport. Tage was recently inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame for his service to the sport of skiing for over four decades. Mr. Speaker Tage Pederson has committed decades of his life to rehabilitating hundreds of Roaring Fork Valley skiers and getting them back on the slopes. He is a caring and humble individual who I am honored to recognize before this body of Congress and this nation. Congratulations on your induction Tage, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to pay tribute to Monterey Rowe and thank her for her work as the Acting Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office of Congressional Relations. Her years of commitment and dedication as a public servant is certainly commendable and worthy of recognition before this body of Congress and this nation today. I, along with my fellow Americans, am grateful for all that she has accomplished during her years of service. Monterey began her service in the Immigration and Naturalization Service as a Data Transcriber in the Record Services Division in 1980. Her efficient and productive work led to three promotions as Staff Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner, Secretary to the Director of the Information Services Division, and Immigration Information Officer. At the Director's request she was assigned to the Legalization Project that helped implement the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Monterey's diligence earned her an additional detail on the Examination Branch that handles special requests from the public, the White House, Congressional, and State and Local government agencies regarding immigration benefits. As result of that experience, Monterey went on to become the Senior Immigration Officer for the Congressional Relations office and was assigned to the USCIS department in 2004. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Monterey Rowe has been an invaluable resource to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Congressional Relations Department and it is my honor to recognize her service and dedication before this body of Congress and this nation. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with devoted public servants like Monterey. On behalf of the citizens that have benefited from the hard work and commitment she has given to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the constituents it serves, I extend my appreciation for her years of enthusiastic service.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to an expert firefighter investigator from Monte Vista, Colorado. Karl Kramer risks his life on the job every day to help people in need in his community and I would like to join my colleagues here today in recognizing his tremendous sacrifices before this body of Congress and this nation. Karl has served the Monte Vista Volunteer Fire Department for more than two decades and currently serves as the president of the Colorado State Firefighters Association. Recently Karl turned his fire investigating role into a full-time career, when he opened his own Fire investigation business called Southern Peaks Investigation. Many different organizations depend upon his sound judgment and risk to his health in determining the cause of a fire. Karl maintains that he began working as a fire investigator because he really wanted to do something for his community. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to honor Karl Karmer for his many years of dedicated service to the Monte Vista community. Karl's risk to his own safety and health have taken him away from his friends and family on many occasions, and I am grateful for the selflessness he has demonstrated to aid others. I am proud to recognize his efforts before this body of Congress and this nation, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.