[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE AL BALDUS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 1997

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize a 
distinguished public servant and former Member of the House of 
Representatives, Al Baldus.
  After 22 years of public service on the State and National level, Al 
retired this year to his home in Menomonie to spend time with his wife 
and family.
  A Merchant Marine in World War II, Al was also a veteran of the 
Korean conflict while serving in the Army from 1951 to 1953. From there 
he worked as a farmer, farm machinery salesman, stockbroker, and 
insurance broker before being elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly 
in 1966. He continued in the assembly for 8 years and then was elected 
to Congress in 1974 to represent the Third District. During his tenure 
in Congress, Al Baldus was a member of the Agriculture Committee and 
was chairman of the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee where he 
shepherded legislation that brought Wisconsin dairy producers 80 
percent parity with other producers--the highest Government price 
support level ever.
  While that sounds like a lifetime of service, that was just a 
beginning for Al Baldus.
  In politics, it is not unusual to see ambitious young public servants 
move up through the ranks from local office to the State legislature to 
Congress and, when their congressional career ends, so does their 
career in public service. It is unusual, however, to see someone serve 
an entire congressional career and feel such a sense of public duty 
that they return to the State house to start another legislative 
career.
  That is exactly what Al Baldus did. After leaving Congress in 1980, 
Al worked for 8 years in the private sector, but then decided to return 
to Madison as a State representative for another 8 years. In all, he 
served 16 years in the legislature.
  Certainly, he could have chosen a less difficult path into retirement 
and probably could have made more money in the process. However, I 
think it's clear that what motivates Al is not the trappings of politic 
power, but the earnest desire to serve.
  I am certain that Al's wife, Lolly, would have preferred to see more 
of him over the years as she and her husband raised their five 
children, but Lolly recognized Al's heart was also with the people of 
his community and his State. That shouldn't surprise anyone. Lolly 
served her community as well and developed a distinguished career 
herself as an administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
  I thank my friend Al Baldus for a lifetime of positive contributions 
to Wisconsin and the Nation. And I hope you'll join me in 
congratulating Al and wishing him the best in his well deserved 
retirement.

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