[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO REGINA FISHER ORIOL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Regina Fisher Oriol, who died in May of this year. She was a loving and 
caring wife and mother and a tireless champion in the fight to 
eliminate drunk-driving.
  Born into a military family, Regina's primary home was Kentucky, 
where her Army career father was stationed at Fort Knox. Upon 
graduating from high school, she became a welder, a rare profession for 
a woman, and rose to the top of her field. Sadly, she was exposed to 
poor working conditions and developed ``metal fume fever,'' which left 
her lungs permanently damaged. Deciding to end her career, which now 
included college welding instruction in western New Mexico, Regina 
become a full-time wife to husband, John, and a stay-at-home mom to 
son, Raymond, and daughter, Margaret.
  In 1996, Regina's retired father, Franklin, was tragically killed by 
a drunk driver and, soon after, five others, from one family, were 
killed in the same manner in the Four Corners area of northwestern New 
Mexico. Determined to make a difference in the state's DWI fatality 
rate, Regina created the DWI ``Victims' Remembrance Wall,'' which 
displayed photographs and stories of victims of drunk drivers, and she 
was instrumental in the Wall becoming a traveling exhibit that raised 
public awareness. The display was placed on view several times in the 
state Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe, drawing the attention of the 
governor, other state officials, and state legislators.
  Regina's DWI eradication efforts continued. Because of assistance 
from her and many others, drive-up liquor windows were closed during my 
tenure as New Mexico's Attorney General. Regina also worked with state 
officials in implementing a state highway sign program to remind 
motorists not to drive while drinking. Over 130 signs now stand in 
various areas of New Mexico that both warn drivers of DWI and offer 
tribute to specific victims. The same program has been adopted in other 
states. Regina was subsequently named the first ``Traffic Safety 
Ambassador of New Mexico'' by the New Mexico Department of 
Transportation.
  Regina's dedication was not limited to DWI-related events. She became 
a public servant volunteer with the local Child Support Division of 
state government, where she offered remedies to problems related to 
child support collection and distribution. Regina's efforts helped to 
increase funding for staff increases, procedure updates, and security 
enhancements.
  Tragedy again struck Regina and her husband, John, in 1999 when both 
their son, Raymond, two days short of 17, and daughter Margaret, 11, 
were killed by an inattentive driver while passengers in a friend's 
car. Even though devastation and a broken heart were now constant 
companions, Regina continued to work faithfully on the causes in which 
she so passionately believed.
  Regina Fisher Oriol was a generous, compassionate and remarkable 
individual, whose humanitarian efforts will never be forgotten. I ask 
my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the life of this 
extraordinary woman.

                          ____________________