[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WILLARD MUNGER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to State 
Representative Willard Munger of Duluth, Minnesota, who died Sunday at 
the age of 88 after a valiant fight with cancer.
  On Sunday, the State of Minnesota and the City of Duluth lost a great 
friend in Willard Munger. The environment lost a valuable ally and 
tireless advocate. He was a man who worked for forty years as a 
defender of the environment.
  Willard, who was born in 1911 in a log cabin, credited his 
grandfather, Lyman Munger, with instilling his love of nature. Lyman 
Munger, a Minnesota farmer and conservationist, told Willard when he 
was a young boy that he could save Minnesota's wilderness from 
destruction if he became a politician. And so he did. He first ran for 
the state legislature in 1934, and although he lost, he did not give 
up. In 1954, he won a House seat representing West Duluth.
  Willard Munger was a thoughtful, devoted, and dedicated public 
servant--the consummate legislator. He served in the Minnesota House of 
Representatives for 42 years, longer than anyone in my home state's 
history. He was also the oldest sitting legislator in Minnesota's 
history. Some legislators get amendments passed, a few get bills 
passed, but only a very small number of public servants leave a legacy. 
Willard Munger leaves a lasting legacy of cleaner air and water--a 
heritage that will benefit future generations.
  In Minnesota, Willard Munger's name is synonymous with environmental 
protection. Because of his relentless efforts, future generations will 
enjoy cleaner lakes and rivers and less pollution in the air. As 
Chairman of the House Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, he 
was a tireless advocate of numerous environmental causes, including 
energy conservation, alternative energy sources and preserving 
wetlands. Perhaps most importantly, he created Minnesota's 
Environmental Trust Fund, which funds projects for environmental 
protection and outdoor recreation. His forty-year career is a monument 
for the protection of Minnesota's waters, woodlands and air quality, 
and we all owe him a deep debt of gratitude.
  Willard has been recognized in the past for his environmental efforts 
by having the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Trail and the animal care 
center at the Lake Superior Zoo named in his honor. Today, we remember 
Willard Munger as a true pioneer in Minnesota politics and for his 
enduring commitment to protecting the environment for future 
generations.

                          ____________________