[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 121 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DOUGLAS D. FARIS

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to a 
dedicated and respected steward of our National Park system, Douglas D. 
Faris, superintendent of the C & O Canal National Historical Park. Doug 
is retiring after a long and distinguished career in the National Park 
Service and I thank him for his outstanding achievements in managing 
and protecting the C & O Canal and other units of our National Park 
system over the past three decades.
  Throughout his career in public service, Doug Faris has distinguished 
himself as a leader in natural and cultural resource planning, 
management and conservation. Beginning as a seasonal employee at 
Yellowstone National Park in 1970, Doug quickly advanced to top 
planning positions at the Park Service's Denver Service Center, the 
Lowell, MA, field office, and the Southwest Regional office, where he 
made substantial contributions to developing new park units, improving 
park facilities, and protecting park resources. In 1989, he was 
selected as Associate Regional Director of the Southwest Region and 
worked for 6 years building partnerships with Native American leaders 
and other organizations, developing highly professional work forces, 
supervising special resource studies, and working with the Congress.
  I came to know Doug shortly after he was appointed Superintendent of 
the C & O Canal National Historical Park in 1994 and, over the past 9 
years, have had the opportunity and privilege to work closely with him 
on a number of initiatives. I saw first hand the tremendous leadership 
he provided in repairing and reopening the Park after two floods 
completely destroyed portions of the Canal and many historic 
structures, picnic areas, and other park facilities during the winter 
of 1995-1996. Doug worked tirelessly to develop a strategic plan for 
restoring the park and to mobilize and coordinate the work of hundreds 
of volunteers and organizations that came to the aid of the Park. 
Thanks to his efforts, more than $25 million in public and private 
funds were raised to repair the damages and reopen the park. Likewise, 
Doug spearheaded efforts to re-water the Canal at its Cumberland, MD, 
terminus, stabilize the historic Monocacy Aqueduct, and construct new 
visitor facilities. Under his leadership, new partnerships were formed 
with organizations and communities along the Canal, an Historic Leasing 
Program was implemented to help repair and protect the historic 
lockhouses and other dwellings in the Park; and many improvements have 
been made to the C & O Canal.
  The efforts of Doug Faris throughout his career in the National Park 
Service have had a lasting effect not only on the parks and National 
Park system he has worked to protect, but on the people with whom he 
has come in contact. He has earned the respect and admiration of his 
colleagues in the Park Service as well as the visitors and citizens in 
the local communities surrounding the parks. It is my firm conviction 
that public service is one of the most honorable callings, one that 
demands the very best, most dedicated efforts of those who have the 
opportunity to serve their fellow citizens and country. Throughout his 
career, Doug has exemplified a steadfast commitment to meeting this 
demand. I want to extend my personal congratulations and thanks for his 
many years of hard work and dedication to the principal conservation 
mission of the National Park Service and join with his friends and 
coworkers in wishing him and his family well in the years 
ahead.

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