[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LESTER RIGGINS

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 1996

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, we rise before you today to pay tribute to 
Mr. Lester Riggins of Sacramento who is retiring after an outstanding 
career of more than 40 years as a manager, educator, administrator, 
entrepreneur, community, and political activist and serviceman in the 
U.S. Air Force.
  Mr. Riggins was born in Marshall, TX and moved with his family to 
Fresno, CA at the age of 8. In his early academic career, he strived 
for excellent grades in preparation for college and pursued a number of 
sports, as well as success in the California Cadet Corp., where he rose 
to the rank of First Sergeant.
  In 1946, Mr. Riggins joined the U.S. Army and served for almost 2 
years, earning the rank of Buck Sergeant and obtaining 4 years of 
education through the GI bill. He then returned to Fresno, enrolling at 
Fresno State College, where he played football on scholarship and 
completed his AF ROTC. He graduated from Fresno State College in 1951 
with a BA in history and earned awards for outstanding AF ROTC cadet, 
three varsity letters, a Blue Key Honor Society scholarship, Phi Gammu 
Mu and listing in Who's Who in College, 1951.
  Shortly after graduating, he was called to active duty during the 
Korean war, serving from 1951 to 1971 in a number of assignments which 
took him throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. During this 
period of service, he earned a number of medals and awards and pursued 
his academic interests, earning an MBA from Indiana University and a 
masters in science, counseling, and psychology from DC University, he 
has since completed all course work for DPA at the University of 
Southern California.
  After leaving the military, Mr. Riggins became active in politics, 
community activism, and civic interests. Professionally, he settled at 
California State University in Fresno where as Assistant Professor, he 
served as chairman of the black studies program, increasing enrollment 
from 200 to over 2,000 students. In 1976, he was appointed by Governor 
Jerry Brown as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of General 
Services for the State of California. There, he was responsible for 
over 5,000 employees and a budget exceeding $50 million. In 1983, he 
left the State and founded California Matrix, Inc., a consulting firm.
  He later served for 1 year as director of youth training program for 
IMPACT, a California National Guard program in Modesto, CA. In 1985, he 
took a position as counselor/night administrator at the Grant Skills 
Center of the Grant Join Union High School district. In this capacity, 
he provides counseling services and resources to the more than 1,000 
students attending each semester.
  Apart from his professional careers in the USAF and in education, Mr. 
Riggins has distinguished himself as a consummate activist devoting 
outstanding service to a number of organizations including the National 
Education Association, California Teachers' Association, NAACP, Urban 
League and the Retired Officers Association. In addition, he has served 
a number of local organizations including the Sacramento City Civil 
Service Board, the Harry S Truman Club, the Sacramento City Affirmative 
Action Committee, and the California Conference on the Black Family.
  Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in recognizing the 
great spirit of this committed individual and in wishing him many years 
of continued success, happiness, and prosperity of his retirement.

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