[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING SAMUEL JAMES TOBIAS

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to join the 
community of Ruidoso, New Mexico in mourning the loss of Samuel James 
Tobias. Sam, a twenty-four-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service, 
lost his life this week battling the Scott Able Fire in southern New 
Mexico when the spotter plane he was in crashed shortly after takeoff. 
His loss leaves a tremendous void for his wife, Jackie, the Forest 
Service, and the entire community of Ruidoso.
  Sam joined the Forest Service in 1977 and worked in Recreation 
Management his whole career because of his love for the National Forest 
and the public. Preserving the land was his passion, and although fire 
fighting was the most dangerous aspect of his job, it was the part he 
especially enjoyed. Sam joined many local and regional fire teams and 
became trained as an Air Attack Coordinator. His skills in coordinating 
air tankers, helicopters and fire crews became well known and he gained 
the respect of all throughout the fire fighting community.
  Sam was also deeply respected as a person. A big man with a soft 
voice, he was known as always having a smile on his face. One of his 
coworkers remembered him as ``the peacemaker with that big smile, 
always helping and giving good advice.'' Others have talked about the 
``twinkle in his eyes'' and his big ``bear hugs.'' His lifelong friend, 
Dale Mance, recalled how Sam helped him find his way out of the steel 
mills of Pennsylvania and into a career with the Forest Service. There 
are so many examples of Sam's goodness; obviously, he had a heart that 
matched the size of his physical stature.
  The many testimonals about Sam that his friends and family have 
offered carry a common theme: his willingness to help others, his 
selflessness, his concern for others. Often, such character is uncommon 
in men. For Sam Tobias it was natural, because he held genuine love for 
his family, his neighbors, and the land. Mr. President, I share the 
grief of the community of Ruidoso and my heartfelt condolences go out 
to the Tobias family.

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