[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E240-E241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEADER IN EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Rutherford ``Bud'' Gaston, Sr., of Fresno, California. Bud has received 
many noted awards throughout the years and most recently he is a 
recipient of the Kremen School of Education and Human Development 
``Noted Alumni Award''.
  Mr. Gaston was born in Georgia, but attended high school in 
Brakenridge, Pennsylvania where he graduated from Har Brack High 
School. Then Bud moved to Fresno, where he attended California State 
University, Fresno and received a Bachelor's degree in Education, and a 
Master's Degree in Education Administration.
  Bud joined Fresno Unified School District in 1953 as a teacher at 
Columbia School. After ten years, he became Principal of Tielman and

[[Page E241]]

Emerson Elementary School, and stayed with Fresno Unified until he 
retired in 1986.
  Beyond his scholastic achievements, Mr. Gaston has also served the 
country well. He gave the United States Army five years of service and 
moved up the ranks to become Second Lieutenant before he was honorably 
discharged.
  Bud has not only served his country, but also served his community 
through many affiliations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of 
the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno, a Foundation Board Member for Saint 
Agnes Medical Center, a member of Kiwanis Club of Fresno, and a member 
of NAACP Black Political Council.
  As a result of the tremendous efforts Bud has made within his 
community, he has been honored with many awards: The Black Educators' 
of Fresno Award, the Troy Award for Education, the Fresno Mall 
Dedication Plaque, Second Baptist Church Laymen's Award, Kids Day 
Award, Elementary Partnership Program Award, KSEE 24 Portraits of 
Success Award, and the Fresno District Fair Appreciate Award are just a 
few of such examples.
  Our community has truly been blessed by the contributions Bud has 
made, and we are thankful for his dedication.

                          ____________________