[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13939-S13940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE DERAN KOLIGIAN

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
recent passing of Fresno County Supervisor Deran Koligian, an 
extraordinary public servant and Californian who died on December 11th 
at the age of 74, after a two-year battle with cancer.
  Deran Koligian was a Fresno County icon, having served as a 
Supervisor for two decades. He faithfully served his constituents up 
until the day of his death.
  Deran Koligian set a high standard of integrity and decency. He was a 
man of great determination and dedication who worked tirelessly for 
Fresno County and California and was loved and respected by so many. He 
was a farmer, a World War II veteran, a family man and an honorable 
Fresno County Supervisor. He will be greatly missed by all.
  I ask that the Fresno Bee editorial from December 13, 2001, be 
printed in the Record. And, on behalf of the Senate, I extend our 
thoughts and prayers to the Koligian Family on the loss of an 
extraordinary man.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                  [From the Fresno Bee, Dec. 13, 2001]

Deran Koligian--A Powerful Voice in Fresno County, State Politics Falls 
                                 Silent

       The odds suggest we shall not soon see the likes of Deran 
     Koligian in public life. The longtime Fresno County 
     supervisor, who died Tuesday at the age of 74, embodied a 
     rare set of skills and virtues. He was a bluntly honest 
     farmer, a man of the soil who so deeply loved his roots he 
     lived his entire life on his family's original 40-acre 
     homestead. He was also a talented and shrewd politician, in 
     the very best sense: clear about his philosophy and

[[Page S13940]]

     objectives, civil in his behavior and capable of inspired 
     compromise when conditions demanded it.
       Koligian spent most of his adult life in public service. He 
     enlisted in the Army at age 18, fought in the Philippines in 
     World War II, and came home to attend Fresno State. The 
     family farm sustained him, but could not contain him. He 
     served many years on local school boards and was first 
     elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 1982. In doing 
     so, he became the first Armenian-American elected to public 
     office in the county.
       Defending Valley agricultural lands against urban 
     encroachment was among Koligian's most important principles. 
     He almost single-handedly pushed Fresno's growth away from 
     his district, mostly lying to the west of Freeway 99, and out 
     to the northeast. He was immensely popular among farmers for 
     his defense of agriculture. He wasn't able to stop westward 
     sprawl completely--no one individual could--but it is only 
     recently that significant residential development has taken 
     place on his turf.
       Koligian was deeply opposed to the county using bonds to 
     raise money for capital expenditures, arguing that it was 
     fiscally irresponsible. He usually managed to persuade the 
     rest of the board to support that position. It was one of the 
     bones of contention between Koligian and The Bee, and he won 
     the argument more often than he lost.
       But--as with most of his adversaries--we always had a deep 
     respect for Koligian. His combination of honesty and 
     political savvy is one we do not often see, and we are all 
     the poorer for that.

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