[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 108 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO GEORGE McKIM BARLEY

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 29, 1995
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. George McKim 
Barley, Jr., a seventh generation Floridian who leaves behind a legacy 
of leadership in the fight to save Florida Bay and the Everglades. Mr. 
Barley tragically died in a plane crash in Orlando, FL, on June 23, 
1995.
  George Barley will be remembered among the great conservationists 
like Marjorie Stoneman Douglas--author of ``A River of Grass''--who 
brought national attention to the plight of the embattled Everglades 
ecosystem that stretches from Lake Okeechobee to the coral reefs of the 
Florida Keys. A passionate environmentalist, George Barley became 
Florida Bay's most visible and ardent proponent in Washington. His 
advocacy and dedication were vital to much of the progress made to date 
in Everglades restoration efforts. Unfortunately, Mr. Barley was killed 
pursuing this passion--his untimely death occurred while en route to an 
Everglades meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers.
  Mr. Barley was the Florida Marine Fisheries Commission's first 
director. He was chairman of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 
Advisory Council from 1992 until 1995. He chaired Save Our Everglades 
Alliance--a family of organizations dedicated to a broad campaign of 
Everglades education, political action and restoration.
  Mr. Barley was named the Florida Audubon's Conservationist of the 
Year for 1994. The Nature Conservancy, the Everglades Coalition, The 
Broward County Environmental Coalition and the Florida Outdoor Writer's 
Association also have given him awards for his volunteer work on 
restoring Florida Bay and the Everglades.
  Perhaps George Barley's greatest contribution to the cause of Florida 
Bay and Everglades restoration was his understanding of the need to 
express environmentalism as an economic argument, a question of jobs 
and a future for ordinary people. As a successful businessman, he was 
well positioned to argue for the need to protect our natural resources 
in order to maintain economic prosperity. He will be long remembered 
and sorely missed by those of us working to preserve the Everglades and 
Florida Bay for future generations.


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