[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 128 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S11339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN M. CURRAN

 Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
John M. ``Mike'' Curran, an outstanding public servant from my State, 
who will soon retire from Government service after a distinguished 32-
year career with the U.S. Forest Service.
  Mike began his career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1965 as a 
landscape architect in the Intermountain Regional Office in Ogden, UT, 
and was later reassigned to the Ashley National Forest. In 1968, he 
moved to the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver, CO. From there 
he went to the San Juan National Forest in Colorado where he served as 
forest landscape architect for 5 years. Mike held District Ranger 
positions from 1975 to 1981 in Wyoming, Buffalo Ranger District, and 
Colorado, Taylor River Ranger District. In 1981, he was selected as a 
Loeb Fellow at Harvard University. He then spent 4 years in the Forest 
Service's Washington office in programs and legislation where, during 
1984, I was privileged to have Mike assigned to my staff as a 
Legislative Fellow to the U.S. Senate. In working with Mike on a daily 
basis, I developed a great respect and appreciation for his 
intelligence, his integrity, his judgment, and his sensitivity to the 
many complexities of environmental issues. Imagine my delight when, in 
1986, Mike became the Forest Supervisor of the Ouachita National 
Forest, headquartered in Hot Springs, AR.
  During his tenure in the Ouachitas, Mike has worked hard to forge a 
unique partnership between research and the forest which fosters the 
advancement of ecosystem management. His vision, initiative, and 
tireless efforts have earned the Ouachita National Forest national and 
international recognition for leadership in the evolving concept of 
sustainable forestry. He also made involvement of the public in the 
decisionmaking process a priority, always striving for new and 
innovative ways to improve this relationship. Significant recognition 
of his efforts include the Chevron Conservation Award, the Oklahoma and 
Arkansas Wildlife Federation Forest Conservationist of the Year Awards, 
the United Nations Environment Programme Award, the Chief's Ecosystem 
Management Award, and the Charles L. Steele Award by the Arkansas 
Nature Conservancy.
  On a personal note, it was a unique set of circumstances which 
combined to forge the decade-long relationship Mike and I have enjoyed. 
From a valued staff member to an agency head in my home State, Mike has 
also become a personal friend. We have argued over issues and worked 
together to preserve and protect the beautiful land surrounding Lake 
Ouachita, and we have celebrated together those accomplishments which 
have added to Arkansas' deserved reputation as the Natural State. After 
he retires, Mike and his wife, Leslee, will be dividing their time 
between Arkansas and Colorado. I am pleased that although my State and 
our Nation are losing an exemplary public servant, I will be keeping a 
valued friend and constituent.


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