[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MIKE CURRAN

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to salute a valued and 
trusted public servant, Mr. Mike Curran, who is retiring this month 
following 30 distinguished years as an employee of the U.S. Forest 
Service. Since 1986, Mike has been the forest supervisor for the 
Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, and that is where I came to know 
him and to admire his abilities.
  Mike has been an outstanding leader of people and manager of assets 
throughout his career in public forestry, and his exceptional ability 
to forge through new concepts to meet changing public demands certainly 
caught my eye. His creative style and national flair for addressing 
competing interest groups and issues has been key to his success.
  In 1990 I became involved in one of the most divisive forest issues 
ever to face the national forests in Arkansas. Public demand to 
eliminate the practice of clear-cutting had reached a peak. Mike was 
instrumental in bringing the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service to 
Arkansas to meet with me to determine whether or not a new way of 
looking at forest management could be developed that would allow us to 
eliminate this disagreeable practice and continue to produce quality 
timber in quantity.
  This event led to the implementation to the new perspectives concept 
of sustainable forestry and placed the Ouachita National Forest, under 
Mike's leadership, in the lead position in a national movement toward 
the ecosystem management philosophy. Mike weathered much criticism from 
many corners as this system began to be developed. At times I know he 
felt he was under siege personally. Today the Ouachita National Forest 
has never been healthier, and its future is bright.
  Mike has made a significant contribution to our Nation, and all of 
our forests have followed his lead. Thank you, Mike. We wish you 
Godspeed in your future endeavors.

                          ____________________