[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO GILBERT MURRAY

                                 ______


                            HON. FRANK RIGGS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 1995
  Mr. RIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to a very special 
person, who was recently taken away from us by a cowardly and desperate 
act. Gilbert Murray, president of the California Forestry Association, 
was killed on April 24, 1995, by a mail bomb at his office in 
Sacramento, CA.
  Gil touched many lives, both professionally and personally. He 
dedicated his life to protecting the forests, which he learned to love 
as a child. He continued to explore and enjoy the outdoor world as an 
adult. He taught his family to love and appreciate nature in all its 
majestic forms--exploring mountain peaks, churning rivers, tropical 
reefs, snowclad hillsides, glaciers, and deep blue lakes.
  Born on June 18, 1947, Gil spent most of his childhood in Southern 
California. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967-70 in 
Vietnam, he returned to the United States to marry his childhood 
sweetheart, Connie.
  Gil spent most of his professional life devoted to forestry issues. 
After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in 1975 
with a degree in forestry, he went to work as a dirt forester for 
Collins Pine Co. in Chester, CA. Through the years he worked in several 
organizations involved in forestry, eventually rising to the presidency 
of the California Forestry Association.
  What is unique and special about Gil is the incredible amount of love 
and affection that his friends and family have for him. Devoted to his 
job, he never lost sight of the people around him. His family was 
always his first priority. Perhaps his young niece stated it best, ``He 
was just the best person in the world.''
  Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members will join me in saluting Gilbert 
Murray and condemning his assassination. Gil was indeed a special 
person, and we can all best respect his life by advancing his ideals 
now that he is gone.


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