[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 52 (Friday, May 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO RUSSELL HUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 1998

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Russell 
Huse, a native of Los Angeles, California, for his dedicated service to 
the community, his passion for the environment, and his inspiring 
courage and physical fortitude. I also would like to extend to Mr. Huse 
my warmest birthday wishes as he prepares to celebrate his 90th 
birthday on April 30th.
  One could say that Mr. Huse and his family were among my district's 
original homesteaders. Russell was born on April 30, 1908 in Los 
Angeles. As a young boy, he spent countless summers and holidays at his 
grandfather's 6,000 acre ranch which encompassed an area that today is 
known as Westlake Village. Living on the ranch, Russell developed a 
work ethic, an unconquerable spirit and determination that has remained 
his trademark to this day.
  Russell went on to study fine arts at UCLA and later settled into a 
career as a Supervisory Technical Writer and Artist at the United 
States Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California. But at UCLA, he 
put his fighting spirit to good use on the football field for three 
years under Coach Bill Spaudling. Even now, Russell remains one of the 
team's most avid fans, often traveling hundred of miles to root the 
Bruins on to victory.
  After UCLA, Russell served as a Park Ranger in Yosemite National 
Park. It was here, in one of our nation's most beautiful spots, that 
Russell developed his love for nature which has subsequently led him to 
devote a large portion of his life to conservation. And it was this 
love of nature that gave birth to Russell's true passion--mountain 
climbing.
  Despite the fact that Russell did not begin climbing until his late 
40's, he has some 160 peaks to his credit. He has scaled Chincey in 
South America, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, all 
after turning 65 years old. While climbing in Switzerland, Russell 
completed the solo rescue of a climber, stranded on the mountain with a 
broken leg. This experience, while earning him a Proclamation for 
heroism from the townspeople at the base of Mont Blanc, led Russell to 
found the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group. This organization saves 
peoples lives in California and Mexico, allowing climbers to enjoy 
nature in comfort and security.
  Today, Russell remains actively involved in organizations within his 
community. He and his wife Edith live in a beautiful hilltop home in 
Westlake Village, overlooking the land he used to play on as a young 
boy so many years ago. Again, I wish to extend my warmest wishes to 
Russell Huse as he celebrates his 90th birthday and I would like to 
wish him good luck as he steams on toward the century mark.
  Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring 
Russell Huse for his decades of service to others. Throughout all of 
his 90 years, he has remained young at heart and he continues to live a 
life that inspires us all to be our best.

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