[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E514-E515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO RICHARD E. CARLSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 1999

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today 
and recognize an outstanding citizen from Chicago, Illinois. Mr. 
Richard Carlson will be retiring from his distinguished career with the 
Chicago District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers later this month. 
He is a Chicago institution in the water resources field and will be 
retiring after a significant 36-year career with the Corps in the

[[Page E515]]

planning and management of civil works projects.
  Rich began his career with the Corps after graduating from the 
University of Illinois in 1963, where he worked his way through the 
ranks to become Chief of the Planning Division. Since 1988, Rich has 
held the position of Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project 
Management. During his tenure, Rich was instrumental in the development 
of the reservoirs for the award-winning Chicago Tunnel and Reservoir 
Plan (TARP) which is authorized for over $600 million in flood control 
reservoirs. The construction of these reservoirs will reduce flooding 
to over 500,000 homeowners and will improve the water quality of the 
Chicago area rivers and streams.
  Rich was also instrumental in the development, authorization and 
recent approval of the Chicago Shoreline Project. This project, which 
Rich helped formulate, will allow for a partnership with the Corps and 
the City of Chicago for construction of a $270 million shoreline 
restoration project protecting Chicago's lakefront from collapse and 
loss of many millions of dollars in public lands and infrastructure.
  Throughout his career, Rich has received many awards and 
distinguished recognition for this unique design efforts, including the 
prestigious Society of American Engineers Goethals Award for 
engineering design and methods in 1996. The O'Hare Reservoir, dedicated 
in 1998, which Rich was also instrumental in, received the Illinois 
Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers design award in 
1998.
  Rich Carson has been a tremendous leader in his field and mentor to 
the scores of engineers who have been privileged to work with him. He 
leaves a tremendous legacy for excellence and advocacy for partnership 
between the federal and local governments that will live on at the 
Corps of Chicago District for many years to come.
  I ask my colleagues to join in honoring this excellent public 
servant, Rich Carlson, and to the wonderful example he has set for 
others.

                          ____________________