[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SALUTE TO RALPH LAIRD, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from California [Mr. Rogan] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, there are occasions when the contribution of 
one of our citizens merits special note on the floor of the House of 
Representatives, and for 20 years I have had the privilege of knowing 
such an individual. His name is Ralph Laird from Pleasanton, CA. He 
hails from my home State.
  Although I am a former resident of Pleasanton, I do not have the 
privilege of representing that community in this House. However, I am 
joined by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from California 
[Mrs. Tauscher], who does represent that particular district.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend and colleague to join me in this 
presentation and salute to Ralph Laird.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Republican colleague from 
southern California for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Representative of the 10th Congressional District 
in California, it is one of my great pleasures and honors to be able to 
recognize and praise distinguished constituents from my area. I rise 
today to honor the accomplishments of a gentleman from my district who 
throughout his life has worked to improve the lives of others. Although 
I have never had the pleasure to meet this man in person, I was lucky 
enough to learn of his service to my community and the State of 
California through the kind words and praise of Congressman Rogan and 
through the admiration of his colleagues in the education community.
  I speak of Mr. Ralph Laird, Jr., a man who has served his country in 
numerous ways throughout his lifetime. Mr. Laird began serving his 
country during World War II, in which he fought as a soldier in the 
U.S. Army. After returning from the war, Mr. Laird made a fortunate 
decision to return to California, where he chose to dedicate his life 
to education.
  Mr. Laird has been a teacher, a coach of a championship basketball 
team, a vice principal, a principal, a dean, and an assistant 
superintendent. In my district, among other things, he has served as 
the principal of Pleasanton's Amador High School for 8 years and later 
as assistant superintendent of the Amador School District. In his spare 
time, Mr. Laird has served on the Pleasanton City Library Board, 
coached little league baseball, been an active member of the Pleasanton 
Rotary Club, and served as a camp director for the YMCA.
  I believe that the people of the 10th Congressional District and the 
State of California have been enormously blessed to have someone like 
Mr. Laird working on their team. Again I would like to thank my 
colleague from southern California for bringing to my attention the 
accomplishments of this outstanding gentleman. Mr. Laird has done a 
great service to the people of my district and to California's 
children. Additionally, I would like Mr. Laird and his family to know 
that my prayers and the prayers of the people of the 10th Congressional 
District are with him during this very difficult time.
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her very gracious 
and kind comments. One comment she made is particularly true--when she 
referred to Ralph Laird as a gentleman. That he is. When I recently saw 
a very popular movie entitled ``Mr. Holland's Opus,'' immediately I 
thought of Ralph Laird. For those who have seen the movie, they will 
remember it as the story of somebody who gave their life to educating 
the children of a particular community and how, over the course of his 
professional career, the fruits of his efforts grew from one generation 
to the next. His legacy are the innumerable productive men and women 
who benefited from his counsel and example during his illustrious 
career.
  That is Ralph Laird's legacy, not only to the people of Pleasanton, 
not only to the people of California, but truly to the people of this 
country. On behalf of the Congress of the United States, I thank him 
for his service to our country, and I salute him.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
California [Mrs. Tauscher], for joining me in this presentation.

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