[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH DOUPHNER

                                 ______


                         HON. ANTHONY BEILENSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 1996

  Mr. BEILENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
Topanga, California's most dedicated and admired citizens, Elizabeth 
Douphner, who passed away recently.
  Betty Douphner served as executive officer-clerk of the Board of 
Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, formerly 
of Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District, which carries 
out environmental education and restoration projects. During the 34 
years Betty was employed by the district, she watched it grow from an 
operation with one employee, herself, to the 50-employee agency it is 
today.
  In her position with the district, Betty worked tirelessly for our 
community. She helped secure conservation services for landowners in 
the area, wrote the district's quarterly newsletter, coordinated the 
annual plant sale, hired personnel, maintained all the district's 
records, and helped establish and maintain the district's Vance Hoyt 
Memorial Library. She became an expert on the law governing the 
operation of resource conservation districts in order to properly 
advise the district board.
  Betty was also responsible for writing and obtaining the first grants 
that expanded the district's education program. The large number of 
awards to the district for conservation and education are a testimony 
to the effectiveness of her work, for which she was twice honored with 
a distinguished service award by the Employee Association of the 
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
  Betty contributed much to the community in other ways as well. For 
her volunteer work with schools, the Women's Club, and the Strawberry 
Festival, the Topanga Chamber of Commerce recognized her as the 1979 
``Citizen of the Year.'' She was also a volunteer with Share 
International, where she helped publish its monthly magazine.
  Betty Douphner's warmth, enthusiasm, and dedication are greatly 
missed by all of her colleagues at the district, and by everyone else 
who knew her. The entire Topanga community joins me in expressing our 
deep sorrow to her family and friends, and our heartfelt appreciation 
for her many years of outstanding public service.

                          ____________________