[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2025-E2026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEAN STRATTON: A HUNTER'S LIFE

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                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend and 
fellow bow hunter, Dean Stratton of Rhodes, Michigan, in acknowledgment 
and appreciation for his entrepreneurial spirit and long-time 
commitment to promoting advanced hunting techniques in Michigan and 
nationwide.
  Dean and I share a love of hunting and the great outdoors. I have 
enormous respect and admiration for him as a hunter and as a 
businessman who turned his $100 investment into the biggest commercial 
game call business in the state. His family-owned business, Stratton 
Outdoor Products, along with Stratton Deer Farm, stand as models for 
other small business owners pursuing their own versions of the American 
Dream.
  Over the years, Dean has used his own passion for hunting to help 
countless others discover the thrills and satisfaction on the sport. A 
native of Bay City, Dean pioneered the development of deer calls and 
was the first businessman in the state to sell deer and game calls 
commercially. He made his discovery by observing how deer communicate. 
He then used that knowledge to transform a duck call into a prototype 
for luring deer. Dean's deer calls are now widely used by hunters 
throughout the country.
  In addition to marketing his innovative, hand-made products to 
hunters and hunting outlets across the country, Dean also has 
successfully harvested trophy-class whitetail deer and wild turkey for 
many years. Always willing to share his expertise on deer and turkey 
behavior and on some of the advanced hunting techniques he has 
developed, Dean has conducted seminars and clinics to pass on his 
knowledge to others. He also is an accomplished author, photographer 
and radio talk show host. Dean credits his wife, Cheryl Ann, and their 
sons, Christopher, Jason and Adam, with allowing him to pursue and 
achieve his dreams.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dean Stratton 
for his many contributions to hunting. He is indeed a straight shooter 
and a strong advocate for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts across this 
great land and throughout the world.

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