[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING CECIL WALT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I take this 
moment to honor the life of Cecil Walt. Cecil recently passed away at 
age 98. Cecil spent nearly half of his life serving the Grand Valley in 
a number of different capacities. As family and friends mourn this 
great loss, I would like to pay tribute to this remarkable human being.
  Cecil moved to the Grand Valley in 1944, settling in Grand Junction, 
Colorado. During his time on the western slope he owned and operated 
five different automotive stores, but was best known for his work for 
the community. It was not long after residing in Grand Junction that he 
decided to run for mayor and was elected. His work for the city will 
forever be enshrined along the Main Street Shopping Park, which he was 
instrumental in constructing.
  Cecil's work to improve the city of Grand Junction earned national 
attention in 1963 when Look Magazine named it an ``All-American City.'' 
Cecil was also very active in crusades to protect western slope water 
rights and to ensure that the Eisenhower Tunnel was built where it 
stands today, to ensure motorists safe passage from the western slope 
on into Denver.
  Former Colorado State Senator Tilman Bishop, in recent article by 
Zack Barnett in The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, had this to say 
about former Mayor Cecil Walt, ``He was a visionary, he was always 
putting things together for the future.''
  Cecil worked very hard to ensure that the Grand Junction community 
was a better place for all to live. He served his community, State, and 
Nation admirably and he will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________