[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GORDON GUYER RETIRES--AGAIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 1996

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, few people are synonymous with the 
experiences we have in life, but there exists a rare and pleasant 
exception: Dr. Gordon Guyer, who has announced his resignation as 
director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and, at long last, 
another in a series of retirements.
  For those who know Gordon, they know that he bleeds green for 
Michigan State University, where over his distinguished career he 
served as professor of entomology, director of the cooperative 
extension service, vice president for government affairs at Michigan 
State University, and finally interim president of the University. He 
lives and breathes Michigan. He has served as a member of the 
commission on natural resources, director of the Michigan Department of 
Natural Resources under Governor Blanchard, and most recently director 
of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. His mind is always working 
like a combine, separating the less useful from the most useful, but 
always looking for ways to make what is left behind even more useful.
  Gordon has served as a skilled motivator. There is not a person he 
has ever touched that hasn't come away feeling like the most important 
and most valuable person in the world. He has marshalled resources like 
no other individual, turning everyone around him into his informed 
advocates. Just ask any of our staff who have been privileged to 
participate in one of the legislative staff agricultural seminars that 
he created. Or ask any current or recent member of our delegation who 
has always felt politely challenged an strongly invigorated by his 
careful encouragement. I can speak most directly to this point from my 
experiences of having worked with him while I served as chairman of the 
Senate agriculture committee during my days in the Michigan State 
Senate.
  And to top all of this Gordon has a wonderful family which he always 
promotes and compliments with equal vigor. His wife, Norma is both 
blessed to be with Gordon, and perplexed to always keep up with his new 
ideas. His daughter, Dawn, learned the value of a caring father, and 
his son, Dan, has the challenge in following in his father's image as 
an assistant professor of MSU.
  Mr. Speaker, Gordon's blood is green. He does live and breath 
Michigan. He dreams fishing, and he thrives on retirement parties. 
That's why after retiring from extension, and DNR, and MSU--twice, he 
now will retire from the formal position of director of agriculture, 
not from his continuing and devout interest in making our State the 
best one of all. I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
wishing Gordon a long and happy retirement.

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