[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MATTHEW ERIC BLACK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2000

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
very special young man, Matthew Eric Black, from Lakeport, CA. Matthew 
lost his life in the line of duty while attempting to suppress a wild-
land fire on June 23, 1999.
  Matthew Black, the proud son of Jo Ann and Gerry Gettman, was born on 
July 18 1978. He was the beloved brother of Michael and Mark, a 
quadriplegic, who he was devoted to, his fiancee, Jamie Bartko, sister-
in-law, Denise, an aunt and uncle, Bonnie and Danny Black, a great 
aunt, Virginia Thompson, and his grandmother, Idean Mason. He graduated 
from Clear Lake High School in 1997 where he loved playing sports 
including wrestling, track, and football. He was named MVP in a coed 
youth soccer league and played ice hockey for the Belmont Rangers, 
Level A Division, and won a state championship with them in 1994.
  Having a desire to help people, Matthew joined the city of Lakeport 
Fire Department as a volunteer and was a former member of the Lake 
County Sheriff's Department Explorer Program. When Matthew was in high 
school he wrote an essay for a school project called Roots and Wings 
which laid out his dream to be a firefighter. It said in part:


       My future is approaching real fast. I have thoughts about 
     what I am going to do and the skills that I will need to do 
     them. My goals are to graduate and go to junior college 
     majoring in fire science and to go on and become a 
     firefighter. . . . I have always wanted to be a firefighter 
     for as long as I can remember.


  Matthew Black wanted to save lives and to change lives for the 
better. He was a strong individual who enriched so many lives with his 
caring, compassionate, loving feelings. When someone was sad or angry, 
he would lift them up by making them laugh and feel better. He was an 
unselfish young man who, when he saw a need, delivered. He is often 
remembered for giving a young mother his bike for her son when she 
expressed she could not afford one.
  To honor the remarkable life of this special man, the community of 
Lake County will be recognizing him at the 2000 Stars of Lake County 
Community Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, February 20, 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we acknowledge and honor the life 
of Matthew Eric Black for his outstanding and unselfish manner in which 
he lived his life. He set an example for all of us to live by.

                          ____________________