[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DAVID J. WHEELER

                                 ______


                            HON. WES COOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 1996

  Mr. COOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 1996, the President 
signed H.R. 2061, a bill to designate the Federal building in Baker 
City, OR in honor of the late David J. Wheeler. As the congressional 
representative for Baker City, and as the sponsor of H.R. 2061, I 
recently returned to Baker City for the building dedication ceremony. 
Mr. Wheeler, a Forest Service employee, was a model father and an 
active citizen. In honor of Mr. Wheeler, I would like to submit, for 
the record, my speech at the dedication ceremony.

       Thank you for inviting me here today. It has been an honor 
     to sponsor the congressional bill to designate this building 
     in memory of David Wheeler. I did not have the privilege of 
     knowing Mr. Wheeler myself, but from my discussions with 
     Mayor Griffith--and from researching his accomplishments--
     I've come to know what a fine man he was. I know that Mr. 
     Wheeler was a true community leader, and I know that the 
     community is that much poorer for his passing. With or 
     without this dedication, his spirit will remain within the 
     Baker City community.
       Mayor Griffith, I have brought a copy of H.R. 2061--the law 
     to honor David Wheeler. The bill has been signed by the 
     President of the United States, by the Speaker of the House, 
     and by the President of the Senate. Hopefully, this bill will 
     find a suitable place within the new David J. Wheeler Federal 
     Building.
       I'd like to offer my deepest sympathy to the Wheeler 
     family, and to everyone here who knew him. And, I'd like to 
     offer a few words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow--who once 
     commented on the passing-away of great men. His words--I 
     think--describe Mr. Wheeler well:

     If a star were quenched on high,
     For ages would its light,
     Still traveling down from the sky,
     Shine on our mortal sight.

     So when a great man dies,
     For years beyond our ken,
     The light he leaves behind him lies
     Upon the paths of men.''

       So too with David Wheeler. His light will shine on the 
     paths of us all--particularly of his family--for the rest of 
     our days.

                          ____________________