[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO NADINE MILFORD, NEW MEXICO MADD STATE CHAIR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
an outstanding New Mexican, my friend, Nadine Milford. On June 30, 
after a successful three-year term, Nadine will step down as the 
Mothers Against Drunk Driving State Chair. I will take this time to pay 
tribute to Nadine for her efforts to eliminate the scourge of drunken 
driving and to improve the lives of countless New Mexicans.
  When tragedy strikes, we can do one of two things. We can either 
allow it to defeat us or we can use the experience to empower us to 
become an effective advocate for change.
  People living in New Mexico in 1992 will never forget that December. 
What started out as an ordinary holiday season was soon changed into 
one of devastating heartbreak. It was Christmas Eve and there were 
pockets of snow across the country. There was a sense of electricity in 
the air as there usually is during the holidays. At one home in 
Albuquerque, Bob and Nadine Milford were especially excited about 
spending the holiday with their children and grandchildren. On 
Christmas Eve, 1992, gifts were waiting under the Milford's Christmas 
tree--gifts that never were to be opened.
  Across town on that fateful night, Paul and Melanie Cravens picked up 
Melanie's three daughters--Kandyce, Erin and Kacee Woodard--at their 
father's west-side Albuquerque home. They decided to go see the lights 
from Nine Mile Hill, west of the city on Interstate 40. But before they 
topped the hill, they were struck by a pickup driving down the wrong 
side of the highway.
  Melanie and the three girls were killed instantly. Paul Cravens 
somehow survived, as did the driver of the pickup. Blood tests later 
showed that the driver was well over the legal alcohol limit. Mr. 
Speaker, I will not go into the legal debacle that ensued on this case 
for the next several years, other than to say it was painful and 
finally created the traction necessary for stronger drunk driving laws.
  New Mexicans were inconsolable that Christmas Eve when the local news 
began reporting what had occurred. Then they got mad. Our citizens 
demanded action to combat the state's DWI problem--and they got it.
  I have been fortunate enough to be a first-hand witness to Nadine's 
many accomplishments. At the time, I was proudly serving as the 
Attorney General of New Mexico. Earlier that year, I had appointed a 
DWI Task Force to study what our state could do to fight drunk driving. 
We issued our report to the State Legislature as they convened in 
January.
  Throughout the next few years, we worked to lower the legal blood-
alcohol limit, toughened penalties for drunk driving and set aside 
millions of dollars to fund local anti-DWI efforts. The state also 
began widespread use of sobriety checkpoints and passed a ``zero 
tolerance'' law that strips minors of their licenses when they are 
caught drinking and driving.
  Throughout all of this, there was one person in the spotlight who 
became the focal point of this crusade, and that was Nadine. She could 
have sunk under the depression that engulfed her. Instead, she leaned 
on her deep faith and the love of her family and seemingly overnight 
transformed herself into the new face of DWI reform. Nadine could never 
have imagined that she would one day be tapped to lead such a worthy 
fight. Ultimately, I cannot think of anyone better to have done it.
  When Nadine was selected as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving State 
Chair in 1999, she was totally devoted to fighting for MADD's mission 
to stop drunk-driving. She has also comforted countless numbers of 
families who have been affected by a drunk driving death. Being so 
modest, I doubt that Nadine even realizes the positive impact that she 
has had on New Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, I have touched only on a small list of Nadine's many 
personal and professional accomplishments. Vera Nadine Fuchs Milford 
was born in Los Angeles, California and has resided in New Mexico since 
1961. Her husband, Robert, still owns Bobby Joe's Auto Sales. In 
addition to Melanie, she has four other children--Terrell, Celeste, 
Pauline and Lance. After graduating from Victory Bible College, Nadine 
taught school for a time. Of everything she has done, I know how proud 
she is of her family. She has been a wonderful wife and mother.
  New Mexicans feel as though they know Nadine because they have shared 
so much of her grief over the years. Nadine's motto is ``persistence 
wears resistance.'' Without a doubt, she has lived this motto 
throughout the years that have passed since Christmas Eve, 1992. She 
has stood tall and is truly a hero to many.
  Much of my admiration for Nadine Milford stems from her enduring 
commitment to fighting the good fight. Her values are reflected not 
only in the way she lives her life, but also in her intelligence and 
honesty. She will undoubtedly be missed at MADD, but her legacy will 
endure, and she will never stop advocating for the elimination of drunk 
driving.
  Nadine, I wish you well in whatever future endeavors you pursue.

                          ____________________