[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        HONORING PALMER TORVEND

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 1994

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, in an era when we hear many critical comments 
about public employees, it gives me great pleasure today to recognize a 
man whose dedication and determination have made him a model public 
servant, Mr. Palmer Torvend.
  Mr. Torvend has dedicated over 35 years to improving the quality of 
life for the people in Washington County, OR. During those 35 years, he 
served in various capacities for the Washington County Extension 
Service. His greatest success was the development and construction of 
the Scoggin Dam and Hagg Lake. For more than 20 years, Mr. Torvend 
worked at developing the dam project. In fact, he was ultimately highly 
instrumental in persuading this body to approve the project.
  All of us in Oregon are grateful for Mr. Torvend's hard work. The dam 
has brought 17,000 acre-feet of irrigation water to the county's 
farmland. It has also provided water for municipal and industrial use, 
and it has produced a wonderful recreation area at Hagg Lake which now 
serves over half a million people a year.
  Mr. Speaker, last year, I worked in Congress to fund sorely needed 
safety and infrastructure improvements at Hagg Lake. In addition, Ms. 
Bonnie Hays, chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, 
came to Washington and testified with me about the tremendous need for 
improvements at the lake.
  Therefore, I was very pleased last week to participate in a 
groundbreaking for the improvements at Hagg Lake. When I was out at the 
lake, I was reminded of its tremendous beauty and tranquility.
  Today, with these improvements, even more people will be able to 
enjoy Hagg Lake. The lake is going to be made more accessible to people 
with disabilities and a new community facility will be able to 
accommodate over 200 people. These additions, along with other sorely 
needed safety and infrastructure improvements will help protect this 
wonderful resource.
  I am very excited about all the changes and improvements that are 
occurring at Scoggin Dam and Hagg Lake, but in this excitement, I want 
to be sure that we remember the dedicated public servant who made this 
all possible, Mr. Palmer Torvend. For 20 years, he kept the vision of 
Scoggin Dam and Hagg Lake alive, and now I hope that we can honor Mr. 
Torvend's tireless efforts.
  By making a dedication to Mr. Torvend, we will not only recognize his 
outstanding efforts, but the efforts of all the millions of public 
servants whose visions have improved our country. They have brought us 
our parks and our ports, our highways and our high schools. Our country 
could never have attained its current property without their efforts. 
Therefore, today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring one such 
servant, Mr. Palmer Torvend.

                          ____________________