[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 136 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEDICATION OF THE W. RUEL JOHNSON ECOLOGICAL 
                                RESERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a respected 
humanitarian, a man whose contributions to his community continue long 
after his passing. Monday, October 15th marks the dedication of the W. 
Ruel Johnson Ecological Reserve, a 1,350 acre reserve that ensures 
coming generations will continue to enjoy the natural beauty and 
environmental diversity that Southern California offers.
  The Reserve's origins date back to 1966, when Ruel Johnson purchased 
the property that became Johnson Ranch. The Johnson family farmed the 
land for 18 years before opening it up to recreational uses like 
hunting and hiking. Recently, Riverside County purchased the land from 
the Johnson family with an agreement that the land would remain open 
space.
  State and county officials will dedicate the land and memorialize the 
namesake. The Reserve will serve as a central component of the 
Riverside County Integrated Plan, a long-range effort to address the 
region's transportation, conservation, and land-use requirements for 
the coming decades. During the dedication, the state's Wildlife 
Conservation Board will present Riverside County with a check for $10.9 
million, acknowledging their shared responsibility to ensure this 
planning effort continues to meet success.
  None of this would have been possible were it not for the generosity 
of the Johnson family. As Founder of the Riverside Community Health 
Foundation and in numerous other contributions to youth and education 
organizations, Ruel Johnson served as an example for his family and for 
all of our community's philanthropists. I am honored to stand to 
recognize his achievements. The W. Ruel Johnson Ecological Reserve is 
aptly named and its namesake well-deserving of this distinguished 
honor.

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