[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HAPPY BIRTHDAY SNOOTY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2002

  Mr. DAN MILLER of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, today I rise to 
honor one of my district's finest and longest residing citizens. On 
July 21st this constituent turned 54 years of age and has been loyally 
serving Manatee County since 1949. Appropriately this guy has become 
the mascot for the county that bears the name of his kind. Of course I 
am referring to the legendary Snooty, the manatee of the South Florida 
Museum in Bradenton, FL. Snooty is the longest living manatee in 
captivity and has been the main attraction of the museum for over fifty 
years.
  Snooty was born ``Baby Snoots'' at the old Miami Aquarium in 1948, 
and a year later was transferred to Bradenton as part of our annual 
Florida Heritage Festival. It didn't take long for Snooty to become one 
of Bradenton's most adorable and popular residents, as he soon became a 
regular part of curriculum for local elementary school students. 
Although Snooty sometimes spends up to 18 hours of his day eating and 
sleeping, you could hardly label him lazy, as he has entertained over 
one million visitors. Snooty has also welcomed many notable guests such 
as former Vice President Dan Quayle, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and 
Captain Kangaroo.
  Thanks to the grand status of Snooty and support from the community, 
a beautiful new facility was erected for him in 1993. The Parker 
Manatee Aquarium holds approximately 60,000 gallons of water and 
provides Snooty with both deep and shallow regions to replicate his 
natural habitat. The new complex also includes many educational 
exhibits to inform the public about this rare sea mammal and its 
struggle to regenerate its population.
  I would like to extend an invitation to my colleagues and their 
families to visit Snooty and experience why Manatee County is so proud 
of their mascot. On behalf of everyone of the 13th District of Florida, 
it is with great pleasure that I wish Mr. Snooty a happy 54th birthday.

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