[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING SAM CAUDILL COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize a man that has made numerous contributions to his community 
as well as the United States as a whole. Mr. Sam Caudill served his 
country in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, 
and since has served the community of Aspen, Colorado as a leading 
architect and historian. For his life of service and adventure, I would 
now like to take this opportunity to honor him.
  Sam started his illustrious career on a mission for the Office of 
Strategic Services to China in 1945 to teach guerilla warfare to 
Chinese soldiers so that they would be able to defend themselves if the 
Japanese attacked. Although Sam did not realize it at the time, this 
type of work was the beginning of what was to become the most extensive 
and complex intelligence network in the world--the CIA. At the age of 
21 Sam volunteered to be a mule packer for the American guerilla 
fighters. Already fighting the Japanese, he had no idea that he would 
be presented with the opportunity to help start a new wave of national 
defense.
  Upon finishing his duty in the army, Sam returned to Cornell 
University to complete his education. After receiving his degree Sam 
returned to Colorado to make his mark on the skyline of Aspen. 
Following the lead of Frank Lloyd Wright, Sam has always strived to 
create buildings that grow out of the environment. Sam was awarded for 
his unique design of Aspen High School, which reflects the rolling hill 
surrounding the school with its rounded shape. He has been commissioned 
in numerous places throughout the state of Colorado. When people refer 
to Sam, he is often called ``the dean of Aspen architecture.''
  Sam has also made a significant contribution to preserving wildlife 
in Colorado. He served on the Colorado Wildlife Commission from 1975 to 
1983, and was chairman of the commission in 1978. During this time he 
has been credited with the law that allows Colorado citizens to 
apportion part of their tax return to the non-game and endangered 
species program. He also worked on the state's catch and release trout 
program. Sam still enjoys the outdoors and trys to hike and fish 
whenever possible.
  An interest in local history has spurred Sam's latest contribution to 
society. For the last twelve years Sam has been interviewing ``old 
timers'' about their lives logging, mining and wrangling here in 
Colorado. Sam hopes to compile all these stories and photos he has 
gathered into a book titled, ``Colorado--the Wild Years.'' His love for 
the old west and his reputation in the Aspen community suggests that 
Sam may have been born a century too late.
  Mr. Speaker, like so many of us, Sam has fallen in love with the 
natural beauty of Colorado. He has spent his life trying to preserve 
that magical quality that the untamed mountains of Colorado exude. For 
this I and the citizens of Colorado are grateful.st

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