[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3-E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. ALBERT C. YATES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2002

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Albert C. 
Yates, President of Colorado State University and this year's National 
Western Stock Show Citizen of the West. This award is given to the 
person who best exemplifies the spirit and determination of the western 
pioneer. Al Yates' leadership and dedication to Colorado and Colorado 
State University personifies this spirit.
  Al Yates is the 12th president of CSU and has led the university to 
become one of the top research institutions in the nation. Since Yates 
took over as president in 1990, CSU has had record fund-raising, 
increased its enrollment, implemented core curriculum, increased 
research grants and recovered from a devastating flood that inflicted 
$140 million in damages. He has brought remarkable vitality to CSU and 
has shown the important role higher education plays to the future of 
the West.
  Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Al Yates enlisted in the Navy after high 
school and served on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. He then continued his 
education at the University of Memphis, graduating magna cum laude with 
degrees in mathematics and chemistry. Yates went on to earn a doctorate 
from Indiana University in theoretical chemical physics, served as the 
postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the 
University of Southern California, and completed the Institute for 
Education Management at the Harvard School of Business. Before coming 
to CSU, Yates served nine years as the Vice President at Washington 
State University.
  Mr. Speaker, Al Yates is a person of high integrity and honor. I 
consider it a privilege to know and work with him. He has served 
Colorado State University well taking the responsibilities and 
standards of his job to the highest level. In a recent edition of the 
Rocky Mountain News, Bill Coors was quoted as saying, ``The Citizen of 
the West pays tribute to a person whose life and work embody the 
Western values we all hold so dear. With Al Yates, his work is his 
bond, and he's dedicated his time, energy and integrity to building our 
state's land-grant institution into a leader in the nation and a source 
of pride for Colorado.'' Furthermore, in a recent essay by Chancellor 
Dan Richie of the University of Denver (a recipient of the Citizen of 
the West Award in 1998), Richie said, ``We are long-standing admirers 
of Yates, who has led the transformation of CSU from `ag school' to 
premier research university.''

[[Page E4]]

  Al Yates not only makes his community proud, but also his state and 
country. It is a true honor to commend to the House such an 
extraordinary citizen. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his service 
and dedication to the state, community and nation. I ask the House to 
join me in extending whole-hearted congratulations to the President of 
Colorado State University, and Citizen of the West, Dr. Albert C. 
Yates.

                          ____________________