[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO EUGENE ``GENE'' ITOGAWA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a man with a 
truly great career in public service. For more than thirty years, 
Eugene ``Gene'' Itogawa has worked tirelessly to preserve the historic 
fabric of California, especially the history of Japanese Americans. As 
Gene prepares to retire from his position as a historian with the 
California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) and California State 
Parks, I would like to ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting 
Gene Itogawa's outstanding commitment to preserve and promote 
California history.
  A resident of Sacramento since 1948, Gene is a graduate of McClatchy 
High School. Gene earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in 
History from California State University, Sacramento. Gene's Master's 
thesis is considered by many to be the definitive work on the history 
of the natural ice industry in California. A proud veteran, Gene 
enlisted with the United States military in 1968 and was honorably 
discharged in 1970.
  During his tenure at Office of Historic Preservation, Gene has 
successfully performed nearly every professional task conducted by the 
office. He has assisted cities and counties in identifying historic 
resources through survey programs and evaluated survey results for 
inclusion in the department's database. In addition, Gene has managed 
state and federal grant programs and directed OHP's historic resources 
database.
  Gene has coordinated several special projects including production of 
the book, ``Five Views: An Ethnic Historic Site Survey for 
California.'' Gene coordinated the preparation of OHP's state 
preservation plan, ``Forging the Future With the Past: Comprehensive 
Statewide Historic Preservation Plan for California,'' and publication 
of the book, ``By the People, Fore the People: The Work the Civilian 
Conservation Corps in California State Parks, 1933-1941.''
  Gene has served as OHP's liaison on several projects to preserve 
Japanese American history in California. Gene was an advocate to 
preserve Manzanar Internment Camp as a National Historical monument. 
Gene serves on the Tule Lake Preservation Committee that seeks to 
preserve the site and history of the internment camp where he was born 
in 1942. In addition, Gene has worked tirelessly to preserve the 
remaining three historic Japantowns in California located in Los 
Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco.
  In 1992, Gene contributed to the development of a major historical 
exhibit recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066 for 
display at the Sacramento History Museum. In 2002, Gene was selected to 
participate in an exchange program sponsored by the California Japanese 
American Community Leadership Council and the Japan Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs to promote goodwill and strengthen the ties between the 
citizens of Japan and Japanese Americans in California.
  A man of many talents and considerable energy, Gene plans to continue 
his many volunteer activities with various statewide and Asian American 
causes. Gene is a board member of the Japanese American Citizens 
League, the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, and the Japanese American 
Historical Society. Gene will continue to work on his latest project, a 
history of the first one hundred years of the Sacramento Buddhist 
Church.
  Mr. Speaker, as Gene Itogawa embarks on an exciting new chapter of 
his life, I am honored to pay tribute to a great friend of California 
history. The people of California have benefited greatly from Gene's 
labor and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I ask all my colleagues 
to join me in wishing Gene continued success in all of his future 
endeavors, wherever retirement may lead him.




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