[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING PETE LYONS UPON RECEIVING A NEW MEXICO DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC 
                             SERVICE AWARD

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, every year, New Mexico recognizes 
some of their own citizens who have contributed to their communities in 
extraordinary ways. Today, along with the citizens of New Mexico, I am 
grateful for this opportunity to recognize Dr. Pete Lyons for his civic 
service. As a Legislative Fellow in my office he serves as my science 
advisor and during his time with me, I have benefitted from his good 
advice and diligent work.
  Service to one's community can be expressed in many different forms. 
However, it is rare to find someone as dedicated to so many diverse 
activities as Pete Lyons. He is a 29-year employee of Los Alamos 
National Laboratory while serving for 16 years on the Los Alamos School 
Board. Whether it is his scientific work, his initiative to help rural 
communities, his dedication to education and young people, or his work 
to improve policy in the international area, Pete shows the same 
integrity, insight and old-fashioned hard work.
  Pete moved to New Mexico 29 years ago to work for the Laboratory as a 
technical staff member. He went on to serve in a number of management 
positions. In his career at the Lab he was the first Director of the 
Industrial Partnership Office where he expanded and created programs to 
encourage economic diversity in Northern New Mexico. He continued 
efforts to improve cooperation with the surrounding community through 
the Lab's office of Regional Economic Development and Technology 
Commercialization Office. Through a wide range of critical projects 
involving issues from telecommunications infrastructure, to 
telemedicine capability to improve rural health care, to technical 
assistance for water quality his work has been hallmarked by a 
dedication to the entire community both related and unrelated to the 
Laboratory. Since the Lab's beginning during World War II, it has been 
a stark contrast to the economy and cultures of the surrounding region. 
Through this work, Pete has helped to bridge that gap to begin a new 
era of cooperation and interaction for the Laboratory and the nearby 
communities.
  In addition, I believe his service that is the most commendable is 
his active involvement in education. Pete recognizes that our 
children's future, our nation's future, is dependent upon the quality 
of our education system. During his sixteen years on the Los Alamos 
School board, he was instrumental in helping to create University of 
New Mexico-Los Alamos Branch College. He represented the Laboratory 
during negotiations with the local school district to form a foundation 
to provide financial support from the Lab and the Department of Energy 
to provide financial support for school districts where lab employees 
lived. During his time in my office, he has worked to bring attention 
to our nation's need to improve science and technology education so 
that America will remain competitive well into the next century.
  Pete also knows that personal involvement can mean so much to young 
people. He has spent several years coaching soccer, sponsoring Boy 
Scouts, and serving as deacon in his church.
  In a sense, Pete continues his civic service as a congressional 
fellow in my office. Over the months, he has proven to me his immense 
value to New Mexico and the nation. Whether the issue be rural economic 
development or nuclear non-proliferation, Pete brings thoughtful 
knowledge and keen insight to the table. He is willing to tackle 
controversial issues with a open mind and commitment to truthful 
dialogue.
  I hope my colleagues will join me and my fellow New Mexicans to 
recognize this remarkable American.

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