[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 195 (Friday, December 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP WILL BE REMEMBERED

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, advocates for second amendment rights, the 
people of Michigan, and conservationists have lost a great friend. Tom 
Washington, President of the National Rifle Association [NRA], died of 
heart failure on December 5, 1995.
  Probably one of the most important aspects of Tom's career was his 
leadership in the NRA. A member of the board of directors since 1985, 
Tom served as second and first vice president until he was elected to 
serve as president in 1994. He strengthened the NRA and acquired new 
state-of-the-art headquarters in Fairfax, VA. As president he improved 
many NRA programs including hunter services, and founded the NRA's 
Youth Hunter Education Challenge.
  Michigan has been fortunate to be served by Tom Washington who played 
a key role in preserving land in Michigan. His commitment to this goal 
was demonstrated when he wrote the administrative rules for the 
cornerstone of Michigan's land use program--the Michigan Farmland and 
Open Space Preservation Act which has been the model for land 
preservation legislation in Michigan. He also assisted in drafting 
legislation to create and then served as a member of the board for the 
Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The trust is used to purchase 
prime recreational lands for public use.
  An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Tom understood the importance of a 
healthy environment and was dedicated to protecting our natural 
resources. Tom served on the board of directors of the National 
Wildlife Federation, the Safari Club International and received the 
Safari Club's International Chairman's Award. Tom was presented with 
the Miles D. Pirnie Award by the Michigan Duck Hunters Association for 
his leadership in preserving wetlands and wetlands wildlife.
  Tom could not have achieved these great accomplishments without the 
support of his loving family and is survived by his wife, Joanne and 
their six children; Miriam, David, Heidi, Susan, Steven, and Christy.
  Please join me in remembering and honoring Tom's legacy of combining 
environmental consciousness and second amendment rights. Tom realized 
that these goals are not mutually exclusive and spent his lifetime 
protecting the two.

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