[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO DAVID ``DAVE'' LeMAY

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2003

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude for 
the exceptional services which Scripps Ranch High School Principal 
David LeMay has performed for the students of San Diego City Schools 
and for our great nation. Dave's leadership, his promotion of 
excellence, his positive involvement in student activities, and his 
deep commitment to educational excellence and sound educational 
practices make him a truly admirable American and one deserving of 
recognition by this body. It is for his outstanding dedication and his 
thirty-three years of service to the students of San Diego that I wish 
to congratulate and thank Principal Dave LeMay.
  Dave's leadership history did not begin with an administrative 
position in the San Diego City Schools or even in the classroom. It 
began with his service as a United States Army officer in 1966. Dave 
served our country in the Vietnam War; and was awarded the Bronze Star 
in recognition of his courage, bravery, and valor.
  Following military service, Dave completed his education at San Diego 
State University; and, in 1970, he began teaching history at O'Farrell 
Junior High in San Diego. Dave's instructional expertise was soon 
recognized, and he was selected as a district demonstration teacher for 
comprehensive and gifted certificated staff. After eight years of 
classroom teaching, Dave became an Administrative Intern at Midway 
Continuation High School. A short six months later, he was appointed 
Vice Principal of Garfield Independent Learning Center. In 1978, he 
became Vice Principal of Wagenheim Junior High School, a position he 
held for the next two years prior to becoming Vice Principal at Samuel 
Gompers Secondary School in 1980. At Gompers Dave was instrumental in 
instituting an Advanced Placement tutorial program for underrepresented 
students.
  Dave's administrative rise continued in 1984, when he was appointed 
Vice Principal of Point Loma High School. He held that position until 
the fall of 1986 when he became Principal of Montgomery Junior High 
School. Three years later he was appointed Principal of Crawford High 
School, a position he held for seven years. At Crawford Dave was 
instrumental in restructuring second language education to include a 
Newcomer Center which served immigrant children. Dave also won School 
Board approval for a School-to-Work bungalow building project. The 
first bungalow was completed in 1992. Since that time, eight additional 
bungalows have been built by students enrolled in construction 
technology.

  Since 1996 Dave has been the principal of Scripps Ranch High School. 
Under his stewardship, the school has been honored by the United States 
Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon High School of 
Excellence. Additionally, Dave has been instrumental to the success of 
my Technology Fair for high school students. Each year more than two-
thousand students from high schools throughout my Congressional 
District attend the event at Scripps Ranch High School. The purpose of 
the ``Tech Fair'' is to encourage students to study math and science 
and to go college. The program has been so successful that it has been 
modeled by the San Diego Science Alliance and by other Congressional 
Representatives' Offices.
  Truly, Dave is a consummate administrator. He has a warm, easy manner 
with people. He is a great listener. He is quietly effective at making 
positive changes. He demands the best by modeling the best. Dave is 
hardworking, task-oriented, organized and efficient. It is hard to 
conceive of a principal who is more knowledgeable of or more involved 
in a school than Dave LeMay. In addition to his pursuit of educational 
excellence, Dave is fervent in promoting other aspects of student life 
such as drama, the arts, music, and athletics. He seldom misses a 
school event.
  Principal David LeMay is the longest-serving high school 
administrator at San Diego City Schools. Dave's remarkable 
contributions to the students of San Diego speak to his intellect, his 
professional drive, and his relentless pursuit of excellence. After 
thirty-three years, Dave will retire on June 30, 2003. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in wishing him the very best success as he starts 
a new chapter in his life, and I hope that he will always be blessed 
with fair winds and following seas.




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