[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12563-S12564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF JOHN E. COOK

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 202, submitted earlier today by 
Senator Domenici.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 202) recognizing the distinguished 
     service of John E. Cook of Williams, Arizona.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, it is my honor today to introduce a 
Senate resolution honoring a wonderful man and public servant, John E. 
Cook. The National Park Service recently celebrated its 83rd birthday, 
and for more than half that time--43 years--John served the Service 
with distinction, grit and integrity.
  John E. Cook most recently served as Director of the Intermountain 
Region of the National Park Service, which stretches from Canada to 
Mexico and covers eight states, including Colorado, Utah, Arizona, 
Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. There he oversaw 87 
diverse park units, including national parks, national monuments, 
national preserves, and national recreation areas. Since I have been a 
Senator from New Mexico, John and I have worked on various, and 
sometimes contentious, park issues. I have always appreciated our 
relationship, and his frankness and competence in dealing with issues.
  Anyone who knows John would agree he is a great guy. Before starting 
his work for the National Park Service, he worked as a farm and ranch 
hand--and I've even heard a few good stories from his days as a rodeo 
cowboy. John began his Park Service career as a mule skinner at what is 
now Saguaro National

[[Page S12564]]

Park, and he has worked as a fire fighter, laborer, ranger, 
superintendent, and regional director throughout the western United 
States.
  In addition to being a strong manager of people and parks, linking 
cultural and natural resource management, John has worked diligently to 
promote understanding of American Indians. Former Interior Secretary 
Stewart Udall appointed John superintendent at Canyon de Chelly 
National Monument in Arizona partially because he speaks Navajo. He has 
received awards for his work in parks around the Navajo Nation, and has 
taught other park staff on American Indians' connection to lands that 
are now national parks.
  The National Park Service owes John Cook a debt of gratitude, and the 
many honors he has received in his service will not repay what he has 
done for the parks of the west. I only hope that he will enjoy his 
extra free time to get in some hunting--a passion both he and I enjoy. 
I am pleased to offer this resolution, and I thank my colleagues for 
joining me in honoring this fine man.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the 
table, and any statements relating to this resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 202) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 202

       Whereas John E. Cook has recently retired from the National 
     Park Service after 43 years of distinguished service to the 
     United States and the people of the western region of the 
     Nation;
       Whereas John E. Cook most recently served 87 park units in 
     8 western States, stretching from the Canadian border to 
     Mexico, as Director of the Intermountain Region of the 
     National Park Service;
       Whereas John E. Cook is in the third of 4 generations from 
     the Cook family who have served the National Park Service 
     with enthusiasm and dedication;
       Whereas John E. Cook's father, John O. Cook, and his 
     grandfather, John E. Cook, served the National Park Service 
     in the southwestern region, and his daughter Kayci Cook, 
     currently serves as superintendent of Fort McHenry National 
     Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore;
       Whereas John E. Cook began his National Park Service career 
     as a mule skinner at what is now Saguaro National Park;
       Whereas John E. Cook, who is of Cherokee descent, speaks 
     Navajo, and has worked diligently to promote Native American 
     understanding;
       Whereas John E. Cook has held 4 regional directorships, 1 
     deputy regional directorship, and 5 superintendencies within 
     the National Park Service, and has proven to be a strong 
     manager of people and parks, linking cultural and natural 
     resource management; and
       Whereas the citizens of the United States and the National 
     Park Service owe John E. Cook a debt of gratitude and wish to 
     congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates John E. Cook for 43 years of service to 
     the National Park Service;
       (2) acknowledges the admiration and affection that John E. 
     Cook's friends share for him; and
       (3) recognizes the pride and high standard of workmanship 
     exhibited by John E. Cook for 43 years.

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