[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1373-E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING JOSEPH PICKLE, CLYDE McMAHON, SR., JOHN TAYLOR, AND OWEN IVIE

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 30, 1995
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, the Texas State Senate recently passed 
resolutions honoring four of its native sons who reside in Big Spring, 
TX. Big Spring is in the 17th District of Texas which I am privileged 
to represent here in the House.
  Joseph ``Joe'' Pickle, a retired editor of the Big Spring Herald who, 
for more than 46 years, has chronicled the history of the Colorado 
River Municipal Water District. Joe has worked very hard on behalf of 
the water district, and has served as the only secretary-treasurer they 
have ever had. In addition, he has been a tireless advocate for the Big 
Spring community and plays an active role in civic affairs.
  Clyde McMahon, Sr., a long-time Big Spring resident who served as the 
operator of McMahon Concrete for more than 25 years. During Clyde's 
service with the Colorado Municipal Water District, no city under its 
jurisdiction ever had to curtail or ration the use of water. In 
addition to his invaluable service to the water district, he has 
donated his time and leadership skills to numerous civic and community 
activities.
  After 31 years of loyal service to the public, John L. Taylor is 
retiring as a member of the board of the Colorado River Municipal Water 
District. With John's guidance, the district underwent a $40 million 
expansion, and he provided outstanding leadership when he served as 
president during the completion of the Lake Ivie Reservoir and pipeline 
project. John has given generously of his time to other worthy 
community activities.
  Owen H. Ivie is a well-known engineer and public servant, and has 
garnered numerous awards relating to his profession. His leadership in 
obtaining a permit for a reservoir was so appreciated by the Colorado 
River Municipal Water District board of directors that they named the 
reservoir the ``O.H. Ivie Reservoir'' in his honor. His knowledge and 
expertise, as demonstrated by a long and successful career, have 
certainly made him worthy of legislative recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request that the Texas Senate resolutions 
honoring these four outstanding individuals be included in today's 
Congressional Record. I would also like to thank and commend them for 
their dedicated service to Big Spring and to the great State of Texas.
                           Senate Resolution

       Whereas, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to pay 
     tribute to Owen H. Ivie on the auspicious occasion of his 
     retirement from the position of general manager of the 
     Colorado River Municipal Water District; and
       Whereas, The Colorado River Municipal Water District was 
     created in 1949; since that time, with no local, state, or 
     federal taxes involved in the funding of any district 
     project, the Colorado River Municipal Water District has 
     developed three reservoirs along the Colorado River in West 
     Texas to help ensure a long-term water supply for the region; 
     and
       Whereas, As a promising young man Owen Ivie joined the 
     water district on January 1, 1953, after having served as 
     project superintendent for Freese and Nichols on the Lake 
     Thomas project; his talents and abilities were quickly 
     recognized, and he rose rapidly through the ranks; and
       Whereas, He became assistant general manager in 1958; on 
     April 22, 1965, this exemplary public servant was named 
     general manager; and
       Whereas, Characteristics of his tenure are ability, 
     responsiveness, and commitment to do what is best for the 
     citizens of Texas; and
       Whereas, Noted for his honesty and integrity, Mr. Ivie has 
     earned the respect and friendship of his colleagues; and
       Whereas, Well known in his profession, he has been honored 
     several times: he was named Engineer of the Year by the 
     Permian Basin Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional 
     Engineers in 1964; Conservationist of the Year for 1986 by 
     the Texas Water Conservation Association and Man of the Year 
     in 1986 by the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce; and
       Whereas, This distinguished gentleman was presented the 
     Service to the People Award by the Texas Section of the 
     American Society of Civil Engineers in October, 1986, was 
     named president of the Texas Water Conservation Association 
     in 1988, and in 1990, was named Outstanding West Texan by the 
     Texas Chamber of Commerce; and
       Whereas, Upon completion of the district's Stacy project in 
     1990, the Colorado River Municipal Water District's Board of 
     Directors named the reservoir in honor of Mr. Ivie, who had 
     overseen the arduous process relating to the permitting of 
     what is now know as the O. H. Ivie Reservoir; and
       Whereas, Throughout his long and successful career, he has 
     been supported and sustained by his lovely wife, Yvonne, and 
     their three daughters; and
       Whereas, The State of Texas has benefited enormously from 
     the wisdom and expertise of this illustrious public servant, 
     and he is certainly deserving of legislative recognition; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 74th 
     Legislature, hereby commend the life of service of Owen H. 
     Ivie and
      congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
     him as an expression of the highest esteem of the Texas 
     Senate.
                                                                    ____


                           Senate Resolution

       Whereas, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
     recognize Joseph ``Joe'' Pickle on the momentous occasion of 
     his retirement as secretary-treasurer of the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District; and
       Whereas, The Colorado River Municipal Water District was 
     created by the 51st Legislature on May 31, 1949; since that 
     time, with no local, state, or federal taxes levied for the 
     funding of any district project, the Colorado River Municipal 
     Water District has developed three reservoirs along the 
     Colorado River in West Texas to help ensure a long-term water 
     supply for the region; and
       Whereas, For more than 46 years, this outstanding gentleman 
     has chronicled the history of the water district; he has 
     served as the only secretary-treasurer of the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District and has attended 316 out of a total 
     of 324 meetings; and
       Whereas, He attended the first organizational meeting of 
     the district in 1946 as an employee of the Big Spring Herald; 
     Joe Pickle has been on the job ever since; he retired from 
     the newspaper as its editor in 1975 and continued to serve 
     the district by taking on the additional duties of media 
     liaison as well as serving as secretary-treasurer; and
       Whereas, Concerned about the well-being of the residents of 
     West Texas, he has been active in the on-going promotion of 
     Big Spring, West Texas, and the Colorado River Municipal 
     Water District; and
       Whereas, A former president of the Big Spring Area Chamber 
     of Commerce, he has also been recognized by that organization 
     as Man of the year; and
       Whereas, A man who believes in giving back to his 
     community, he has been instrumental in many community 
     projects; and
       Whereas, A longtime supporter of Boy Scouts, he has been 
     presented the Silver Beaver Award, scouting's highest honor; 
     he is 

[[Page E1374]]
     also a past Scoutmaster of Troop One, the first troop west of the 
     Mississippi; and
       Whereas, A man of deep religious convictions, he has been 
     an active member of the First Baptist Church of Big Spring 
     and has served as president of the church board of trustees; 
     and
       Whereas, The State of Texas has benefited enormously from 
     the service, wisdom, and expertise of this eminent public 
     servant, and he is truly worthy of legislative recognition; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 74th 
     Legislature, hereby applaud the career of service of Joseph 
     ``Joe'' Pickle and congratulate him on his well-deserved 
     retirement; and, be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
     him as an expression of the highest regard of the Texas 
     Senate.
                                                                    ____

                           Senate Resolution

       Whereas, It is indeed fitting and appropriate for the 
     Senate of the State of Texas to pay tribute to Clyde McMahon, 
     Sr., of Big Spring on the momentous occasion of his 
     retirement from 22 years of distinguished service with the 
     Colorado River Municipal Water District; and
       Whereas, Throughout his long and dedicated career, Mr. 
     McMahon has served effectively and conscientiously to the 
     benefit of the citizens of West Texas; since 1952, no city 
     served by the Colorado Municipal Water District has ever 
     curtailed or rationed the use of water; and
       Whereas, Created on May 31, 1949, the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District has developed three reservoirs along 
     the Colorado River in West Texas to help ensure a long-term 
     water supply for the region; directors of the district are 
     appointed by the member cities and revenue bonds finance all 
     projects with no local, state, or federal taxes involved in 
     the funding of any district project; and
       Whereas, In the beginning, the three-member cities of Big 
     Spring, Odessa, and Snyder had a combined population of 
     56,000; today, the water district serves a 32-county area 
     that totals 450,000 persons; and
       Whereas, Mr. McMahon moved to Big Spring in 1953 after 
     working on a highway project at Sterling City and, for nearly 
     25 years, operated McMahon Concrete before turning over the 
     management of the company to his son in 1977; and
       Whereas, Through the years, Clyde McMahon has become deeply 
     involved in civic and community affairs freely offering his 
     time and expertise; he served as president of the school 
     board and was a two-term president of the Young Men's 
     Christian Association; he was head of the United Way, the 
     American Business Club, and the Texas Ready-Mix Association 
     and worked on the Industrial Foundation; and
       Whereas, A former president and director of the Big Spring 
     Area Chamber of Commerce, the esteemed gentleman was named 
     ``Man of the Year'' of the organization in 1974 in honor of 
     his notable contributions to his community; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 74th 
     Legislature, hereby express its deepest admiration to Clyde 
     McMahon, Sr., for his invaluable accomplishments during his 
     years of service with the Colorado River Municipal Water 
     District and extend best wishes to him for a most rewarding 
     retirement; and, be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
     him as an expression of the highest regard of the Texas 
     Senate.
                                                                    ____

                           Senate Resolution

       Whereas, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 
     recognizing John L. Taylor of Big Spring who is retiring 
     after 31 years of loyal service on the Board of the Colorado 
     River Municipal Water District; and
       Whereas, Following its creation in 1949, the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District developed three reservoirs along the 
     Colorado River in West Texas to help ensure a long-term water 
     supply for the region; the district now serves a number of 
     cities in a 32-county area that totals 450,000 persons; and
       Whereas, John Taylor joined the board of the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District in 1964 and in 1983 became the 
     district's fourth president; and
       Whereas, A talented and resourceful individual, he has 
     shared in the direction of over $40 million worth of district 
     expansion, and it was during his tenure as president that the 
     district's Lake Ivie Reservoir and pipeline projects was 
     completed; the district capacity now totals 1.247 million 
     acre-feet of permitted storage on the Colorado River; and
       Whereas, While serving on the board, Mr. Taylor handled his 
     responsibilities with exceptional skill and dedication, and 
     his work included chairing the Colorado River Municipal Water 
     District's personnel committee and serving on the water rate 
     committee; and
       Whereas, An exemplary gentleman and a leader in his 
     community, John Taylor served as president of the Big Spring 
     Area Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as its Man of the 
     Year; he also served as a city council member and as mayor 
     pro tem of the City of Big Spring; and
       Whereas, As a member of the Board of the Colorado River 
     Municipal Water District, John Taylor has contributed greatly 
     to the welfare of the communities in the district's area, and 
     his presence on the board will be missed by his colleagues 
     and by the citizens of West Texas; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 74th 
     Legislature, hereby commend John Taylor on his many years of 
     distinguished service with the Colorado River Municipal Water 
     District and extend to him best wishes for the retirement 
     years ahead; and, be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
     him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
     

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