[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 85 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MR. VANCE VAN TASSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 2004

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor an outstanding 
citizen and a great friend, Mr. Vance Van Tassell, of Granite Bay, 
California.
  Vance was born and raised in Illinois to the son of an auctioneer and 
pig farmer. Following in his father's footsteps, he also became an 
auctioneer at a young age. In fact, throughout his college career he 
worked as an insurance sales auctioneer and wildcat oil man. He 
completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois where 
he also earned a juris doctorate degree.
  In the early 1960s, Vance moved to Sacramento to take the California 
Bar Examination. Since founding the firm of Van Tassell, Fornasero & 
Wagstaffe in 1963, he has practiced law for over 40 years while 
maintaining a thriving auction practice as well. As a testament to both 
the quality of the man and his business, Vance's legal staff averages 
18 years of service. One staff member has even been with the firm for 
35 years. This loyalty and longevity is easy to understand as Vance has 
always been generous to a fault with his clients, colleagues, political 
causes, and many charitable organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, more important than his professional success is the fact 
that Vance is the proud father of five children: Denise, Jeff, Valerie, 
Victoria and Courtney.
  As a devoted Christian, Vance has worshipped at the Capital Christian 
Center for years, being of service as a volunteer and reaching out to 
many with the word of the Lord. Recently, the church named him 
Volunteer of the Year. However, due to his great humility, he was very 
reluctant to accept any type of acknowledgment for his many efforts.
  Vance owns his dream ranch in Point Arena, along California's North 
Coast, where he has a small herd of longhorn cows with a bull named 
after his idol, Patton. He loves nothing more than entertaining people 
there or at his Granite Bay home. All who know him find him to be 
humble, caring, and giving--in short, remarkable.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because of good, decent, hard-working citizens 
like Vance Van Tassell, that America remains a good, decent, hard-
working country. Therefore, it is appropriate now to express thanks and 
appreciation to my good friend, Vance, for his lifetime of bettering 
the world around him. May our land always be blessed with more men like 
him.

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