[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING BOB SECRIST OF BOISE, IDAHO, ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE 
             DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Secrist, a man 
who has served Idaho veterans for more than 30 years, on his retirement 
from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.
  As a Vietnam veteran himself, Bob has shown compassion and dedication 
to veterans of all ages and in all areas of Idaho.
  Bob grew up in the farming community of St. Anthony, Idaho where he 
learned the value of hard work, a firm handshake and an honest heart. 
He stayed close to home, attending Ricks College and graduating in 
1964. He served his church on a two-year mission to the Great Lakes 
area. When he returned, he joined the Idaho National Guard. While in 
the Guard, he was called to Vietnam. He was a truck driver, delivering 
truckloads of gasoline and diesel fuel throughout Vietnam's Central 
Highlands. His highly explosive convoys negotiated mined roadways, 
blown up bridges, and sporadic enemy assaults. He returned in August 
1969, married his sweetheart Judy in 1970, and graduated from Idaho 
State University in 1971 with a degree in business.
  After graduating, the family moved to Boise, and Bob began his 
distinguished career at the VA Regional Office. He started out as 
Claims Adjudicator working stacks of paper to help those who'd been 
disabled in the line of duty. For many, Bob put a human face to 
veterans' issues. His outreach on veterans' issues is legendary. If you 
had a question about veterans' benefits, Bob knew the answer.
  In 1974, he was promoted to be the Education Liaison Representative 
working with Idaho schools under the GI Bill education program. 
According to his colleagues, Bob was able to streamline the schools' 
procedures and improve services to veterans enrolled in school. He 
utilized his claims processing background to work weekends helping 
adjudicators to write education awards and clearing up processing 
delays.
  Because of his dedication and community involvement, he was named the 
Chief of the Regional Office's Veterans Services Division in 1990. In 
this position, he was in charge of state outreach to all veterans and 
beneficiaries around the state.
  Bob always felt compassion for veterans. He never lost sight of who 
he was working for--not the government--not the VA--but the veterans 
who had served this country. He made sure the VA Regional Office wasn't 
an Ivory Tower looking down on the veterans they served. In the face of 
budget cuts, he was determined to make the Regional Office ``veteran 
friendly.'' He began a program of partnerships with the Veterans 
Service Organizations, the VFW, DAV, American Legion, the Wake Island 
Survivors, the Idaho Department of Veterans Services, and many others.
  After the Regional Office was consolidated in the late 1990s, Bob was 
appointed as the Regional Office Public Information Officer. In that 
position, he served as a congressional liaison, always ensuring that my 
staff and I was informed about veterans issues.
  Bob, for 33 years you've been a shining star in the veterans' 
community, showing those around you that veterans come before 
bureaucracy and that good ideas don't need to be buried under the 
burden of government. I commend you. I congratulate you and on behalf 
of the thousands of veterans you've served, and I thank you.

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