[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1846-E1847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. CHUCK GRAHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you my 
tremendous pride in a member of the United States Forest Service who 
has served his fellow citizens and his nation for almost 40 years, Mr. 
Chuck Graham. Chuck has not only served in the finest tradition of the 
Forest Service, he has also made the Forest Service a great neighbor to 
the communities in which he has served. Chuck's career has been guided 
by a deep commitment to public service. In every community, from 
Prospect and Powers to John Day and Lakeview, he has been a friend to 
all who have known him.
  Most recently, serving as Forest Supervisor of the Fremont and Winema 
National Forests in Oregon, Chuck has always seemed to find a way to 
bring Forest Service interests and community interests together. 
Whether he was working out a land exchange to preserve the local ski 
area or preserving a long-standing sustained yield unit, Chuck has 
always been guided by common sense and innovation to solve problems and 
capitalize on opportunities.

[[Page E1847]]

  Community leaders and those who use our public lands admire Chuck for 
his sensible approach to the stewardship of our natural resources. 
Chuck's strong belief in responsible multiple-use has made the forests 
he's cared for a valuable asset for all of us. In his innovative 
management of the forests, he never lost sight of the fact that the 
chief function of a forest is to sustain clean and abundant water. 
Chuck has demonstrated that when you manage a forest for its water, you 
bring out the best that God intended in a forest.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, we can all take pride in the way Chuck 
oversaw the merging of the local Bureau of Land Management and United 
States Forest Service into one, cohesive, efficient, and responsive 
unit. At the headquarters in Lakeview, the BLM and Forest Service not 
only share a building, they share a philosophy and a mission. Because 
they work so well together, Chuck and his BLM counterpart, Steve Ellis, 
have created the model for effectively combining assets of our land 
management agencies to deliver great service at a significant savings 
to the taxpayer.
  Those who have worked with Chuck admire his management style. Chuck 
sees every employee not just for what they are but also for what they 
can become. He is dedicated to helping his people reach their full 
potential in an organization that has meant a great deal to him during 
a long and productive career. He has steered his organization with a 
steady and gentle hand, always mindful of his responsibility to the 
health of the forest and the vitality of the surrounding communities.
  Chuck is known by the managers of Region 6 as the ``go-to guy.'' When 
there is a big project, a vexing problem, or an exceptionally bright 
opportunity, the word in the Regional Office is to ``run it by Chuck''. 
Chuck has had a distinguished career of getting things done for us, his 
neighbors, and for the environment we all share.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me today in saluting a man 
who has served us well. Chuck Graham represents the best in the Forest 
Service and serves as an example for all to follow. Chuck's career 
truly represents the ``service'' in Forest Service.

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