[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 117 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1704-E1705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO CARL BLEDSOE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to Carl Bledsoe and thank him for his exceptional 
contributions to his community and the State of Colorado as the Speaker 
of the Colorado House of Representatives. A state representative since 
1973, Carl is a dedicated public servant and leader in his community 
and I am honored to recognize his service before this body of Congress 
and this Nation today.
  A resident of Aroya, Colorado, Carl graduated from Kit Carson High 
School in 1941 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1945. 
He later earned a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from Colorado 
State University. Carl began his impressive thirty-two year public 
service career in 1958 as secretary of the Lincoln County Stockmen's 
Association. He served 12 years on the Kit Carson Board of Education, 
including two years as President. Carl was the President of Cheyenne 
County Farm Bureau from 1962 to 1964, and the Colorado Cattlemen's 
Association in 1967. He has also served as a member of various 
organizations like the National Western Stock Show Association, the 
Colorado Housing Inc, Board, the Colorado State Board of Veterinary 
Medicine and the Colorado State Fiscal Policy Committee.
  Carl was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1972 
becoming the third member of his family to serve in the Colorado 
General Assembly. During his seventeen years as a legislator, Carl 
chaired the House Committee on Finance, the Legislative Audit 
Committee, the Western Region of the Council of State Governments, and 
was the vice-chairman of the International Trade Committee of the 
National Conference of State Legislatures and most recently Speaker of 
the House for the last five years. During his seventeen years of 
service he received many awards such as the Outstanding Rural 
Legislator of the Year, and the American Legislative Exchange 
Conference's Outstanding State Legislator award.

[[Page E1705]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Speaker Bledsoe has ceaselessly 
dedicated his time and efforts to serving his country and the people of 
Colorado as the Speaker of the House in the Colorado House of 
Representatives. I am honored to bring his hard work and commitment to 
the attention of this body of Congress and this nation today. Thank you 
for all your service, Carl, and I wish you all the best in your future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________