[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KAREN WADE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before this body of Congress and 
this nation to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant. Karen Wade 
recently announced her retirement from the National Park Service. 
Throughout her many years of service, Karen has work tirelessly to 
create and promote a bond between our National Parks and the people 
they serve. For her years of service, I am honored to pay tribute to 
Karen here today.
  Karen began her career with the National Park Service as a seasonal 
radio dispatcher at Mesa Verde National Park near her native Cortez, 
Colorado. Karen went on to her first permanent post in 1978 as a Trail 
Coordinator with the Appalachian Trail Project. Over the years, Karen 
has held many positions in the Park Service, including Superintendent 
of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shine in Baltimore, 
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas, Wrangell-St. Elias National 
Park in Alaska, and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in the 
southeastern United States.
   In 1999, Karen became the Regional Director for the Intermountain 
Region. In that position, she oversaw parks in eight western states, 
including Colorado, and was entrusted with such treasured national 
parks as the Grand Tetons, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and her 
beloved Mesa Verde. Throughout her career, Karen's work has not gone 
unnoticed. She has received many awards and accolades, including 
Superintendent of Year for Natural Resources, a Southeast Region Award 
for her work at the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Achievement Award.
   Mr. Speaker, Karen Wade has dedicated 25 years to protecting and 
promoting our national parks. Her tireless work has ensured that future 
generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and splendor of our 
national parks. For her dedication and years of service, I am honored 
to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to Karen here today. I 
wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

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