[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E961-E962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MELVIN JACOBSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the 
meaning of volunteerism and community service as personified by an 
individual in my congressional district.
  We've all met such people in our personal and professional lives, 
people who have made the act of giving of themselves almost second 
nature. We soon recognize them in our communities, even if we may not 
always know them personally, because we see them on one day cooking 
pancakes at a benefit breakfast, and perhaps on the next evening we may 
see them serving as an auxiliary traffic police officer at an event 
like a parade.
  Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is blessed with 
such a volunteer and community servant. Mr. V. Melvin Jacobson

[[Page E962]]

for half a century has dedicated himself to the 4-H program and the 
youth of the county. It was in fact 1948 when Melvin became president 
of the Gogebic County 4-H Council. From this leadership position, he 
would help the local 4-H launch a variety of valuable programs.
  First, he played a major role in the establishment of the Gogebic 
Extension Camp at Little Girl's Point, which opened in 1950. He served 
as a leader in the establishment and operation of the 4-H Ski Hill on 
the George Mussatti farm in Bessemer. The ski hill opened in 1951 and 
was open every weekend through the early 1980's.
  Melvin helped promote and organize many ``Annual 4-H Winter Sports 
Days,'' and in his 18 years on the Gogebic County Fair Board he 
actively promoted many county fair activities, including coordinating 
the 4-H Parade.
  Maybe most importantly in his 4-H work, Melvin has served as a 
positive and encouraging friend to the children involved with the 
Gogebic County 4-H program. I have it on good faith from a member of my 
own staff, a 4-Her from northern Michigan, that ``Melly,'' as he was 
known, never failed to offer a warm, welcoming smile, a constant and an 
eagerly expected treat for those youth attending 4-H Camp or exhibiting 
their projects at the Gogebic County Fair.
  Mr. Speaker, we know the face of this giving volunteer was bound to 
show up in other venues, as is the case with true volunteers, so it 
should be no surprise to learn Melvin also served as a Gogebic County 
Commissioner for 22 years. For the same amount of time he served on the 
Western U.P. Planning and Development Regional Commission and with the 
Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency.
  Melvin was a member of the Gogebic County Airport Board for six 
years, a member of the UPCAP Executive Committee for 11 years, and he 
served on the Western U.P. District Health Board for 18 years. He was a 
liaison to the Michigan Townships Association for eight years. Melvin 
was active in dairy farm professional associations, and in other 
professionally-related efforts he was a part of the Agricultural 
Stabilization and Conservation Service for 30 years.
  Repeated terms on the local Lutheran Church board and service as a 
Little League Counselor round out the valuable contributions made to 
the area families and the community.
  It's no wonder that Mr. Jacobson was nominated for Governor George 
Romney Lifetime Achievement Community Service Award. Michigan's former 
governor served as an inspiration for volunteerism in the state before 
he became a national inspiration for last year's gathering in 
Philadelphia.
  On May 30, 1998, V. Melvin Jacobson will be honored by friends and 
family at a 4-H Appreciation Banquet. I ask all my colleagues to join 
me in celebrating this lifetime of service to all the people of the 
western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and to offer thanks on behalf of 
all those, children and adults, whose lives were enriched by this 
service.

                          ____________________