[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 22, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E884-E885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LAURIE MATTHEWS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service 
of Laurie Matthews. For the past decade Laurie has directed the 
Colorado State Parks through a period of transition that has resulted 
in the system becoming a ``national model.'' Overseeing forty state 
parks with an annual budget of $40 million, Laurie has become one of 
the most valued leaders in outdoor recreation in the nation.
  When Laurie took charge of the state parks system, it consisted of 
190,000 acres with a maintenance backlog that experts said would take 
over forty years to clear up. Under her leadership the state park 
system in Colorado expanded by 25,000 acres worth $54 million and 
completely erased the maintenance backlog. Her dedication to the 
outdoors showed in her bolstering of environmental education and 
interpretation by adding 19 new visitor centers

[[Page E885]]

and 30 new seasonal interpreters to better assist the public.
  Laurie also serves on the Board of Directors for the National 
Association of State Park Directors, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, 
and Leave No Trace. She has been highly praised for her dedicated 
service to the state of Colorado by Gov. Bill Owens and the Executive 
Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Greg Walcher. Today I 
would like to add my voice to this praise. Laurie's service to the 
people and the lands of Colorado has been outstanding. The quality of 
life in our state has been enhanced by her commitment.
  She leaves Colorado to join her husband in the Himalayan Dental 
Relief Project in Nepal. During my travels and mountain climbing 
experiences in that country, I have come to know and appreciate the 
people of Nepal and I know that Laurie will be of tremendous service to 
them. I wish Laurie and her husband the best possible luck there. If 
she has even a fraction of the amount of success there that she has had 
in Colorado then the people of Nepal will indeed be extremely 
fortunate.
  Mr. Speaker, I am attaching a recent article and editorial from the 
Denver Post, and want to personally thank Laurie Matthews for her years 
of dedicated service.

                         [From the Denver Post]

               Head of Colorado State Parks to Step Down

                            (By Theo Stein)

       Tuesday, April 17, 2001.--Ten years ago, Laurie Matthews 
     inherited a Colorado State Parks system that had 190,000 
     acres, a $6 million annual budget and a maintenance program 
     so far behind that officials said it would take 44 years to 
     catch up.
       On Monday, Matthews announced she is leaving her position 
     as director after a decade that saw park officials erase the 
     maintenance backlog and add 25,000 acres of new holdings to a 
     system that now counts 11 million visitors a year.
       Under her tenure, sought-after lands were added under the 
     park system's ``crown jewel'' initiative, and acquisitions 
     around three urban-area parks, Castlewood, Roxborough and 
     Barr Lake, provided important buffers.
       ``State parks have flourished under her leadership, and we 
     will miss her greatly,'' said Edward Callaway, parks board 
     chairman. ``I have absolutely the highest regard for that 
     woman.'' Matthews said she's resigning effective June 20 to 
     spend several months in Nepal helping her husband, dentist 
     Andrew Holeck, with the nonprofit Himalayan Dental Relief 
     project they co-founded. ``For five years, we've gone over to 
     Nepal and gradually have done more and more of the clinics,'' 
     she said.
       While she's excited about the challenge, Matthews also said 
     she has mixed feelings about leaving. ``It's been a wonderful 
     10 years, the system is positioned beautifully, but, yeah, 
     it's difficult,'' said Matthews. ``What I'll miss most are 
     the wonderful people who work for Colorado State Parks.''
       Matthews said three developments provided the footing 
     necessary to make the gains of the past 10 years. First came 
     the legislation enabling Great Outdoors Colorado, which 
     earmarked state lottery money to help parks and recreation.
       Second was a bill championed by the state's congressional 
     delegation that allowed federal agencies to join cost sharing 
     partnerships with states to renovate aging parks.
       Finally, the state legislature approved park fee increases.
       Matthews also focused on environmental education in the 
     parks, adding 19 new visitor centers and 30 seasonal 
     interpreters to assist the public.
                                  ____


                       Continue Parks Leadership

                    (By Denver Post Editorial Board)

       Monday, April 23, 2001.--In the past decade, Colorado's 
     state parks have truly blossomed--and just at the right time. 
     As our state's population grows, more people need more places 
     for outdoor recreation. And our 40 state parks (with more 
     slated to open in the next few years) offer just such 
     opportunities to 11 million visitors each year.
       Such a diverse system demands the excellence in leadership 
     it has enjoyed for the past 10 years under state parks 
     Director Laurie Matthews.
       Now, however, the 48-year-old Matthews is leaving to help 
     her husband run a new, non-profit group that will provide 
     free dentistry to Nepal's impoverished children.
       Matthews' contribution to Colorado conservation cannot be 
     overstated. She has been a tireless advocate for public 
     recreation, environmental education, wildlife habitat 
     preservation and open-space preservation. She has created 
     good will between her
       There's no replacing Matthews, but the state now must find 
     a successor.
       Whether Gov. Bill Owens' administration chooses someone 
     inside or out of the state system, the next parks director 
     must posses certain key qualities.
       Foremost is solid leadership, including the ability to 
     think strategically and envision what the state parks system 
     should be five to 10 years hence. Indeed, protecting the 
     parks from development pressures, while respecting the rights 
     of surrounding property owners, is one of the toughest 
     juggling acts the new director will face.
       The director also must work collegially with other state 
     agencies, while having the gumption to stand up for the best, 
     long-term interests of the parks system.
       Matthews certainly brought such admirable traits to her 
     job. The Owens administration should search for a successor 
     with equal attributes.

     

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