[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING NICK BECK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nick Beck on the 
occasion of his retirement from the Madera City Fire Department after 
39 years of service. A celebration in his honor will take place on 
Sunday, November 16th in Madera, California.
  Mr. Beck proudly served our country in the United States Army before 
working with the Madera City Fire Department. After training in 
California and Georgia, he was assigned to Company B of the 97th Signal 
Battalion in Germany. Nick was also selected to attend the 7th Army 
Non-Commissioned Officers Academy where he graduated in the top 10 of 
his class. Just months after his service in the Army ended, Mr. Beck 
started his employment with the Madera City Fire Department.
  In 1969, Nick was promoted to Apparatus Engineer, a specialist in the 
operation of heavy fire equipment vehicles. He was named Fire 
Lieutenant in 1976, then Battalion Chief in 1979. Each promotion was 
achieved through a competitive examination, and Nick scored number one 
on each test. In the early '90s, Mr. Beck was instrumental in the 
city's efforts to contract for fire protection with the California 
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Through his efforts, a 
contractual agreement was met, which led to an estimated $2 million in 
savings for the City of Madera over the last 10 years. Nick also 
received two Madera County Firefighter of the Year awards.
  Mr. Beck has also been a prominent member of numerous professional 
organizations. He is a past-President of the Central California Fire 
Training Officers Association, the Madera County Employees Federal 
Credit Union, the Central California Fire Prevention Officers 
Association, and the Madera Firefighters Association. He is also a 
member of the 1st Fresno City College Fire Science Advisory Board and 
the California State Firefighters Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nick Beck for his valiant service 
to the Madera City Fire Department. I invite my colleagues to join me 
in wishing Mr. Beck an exciting, well-deserved retirement.

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