[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DON DeMERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Don 
DeMers of Fresno, California. Mr. DeMers, Fresno County Transportation 
Authority Executive Director, recently lost his battle against cancer.
  Mr. DeMers had a long list of work experience in various places. 
Prior to becoming Administrator of the Fresno County Transportation 
Authority, Don was the Manager of Transportation Planning and 
Implementation in Anchorage, Alaska. He served as the Executive 
Director of the Bi-State Planning Agency in Minnesota, and as a 
stockbroker for Shearson Lehman in Minnesota. Don even spent time in 
Washington, DC, as a law clerk to a U.S. Attorney.
  He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of University of North Dakota. Don 
holds a PhD in Political Science, and a Master's in Political Science/
Public Administration. After his education in North Dakota, he attended 
Georgetown Law School in Washington, DC and the New York Institute of 
Finance in New York.
  Mr. DeMers is survived by his wife, Deborah; sons Robert and wife 
Dawn, and Tony and wife Teena; daughters Barbarah and husband Michael 
Livorsi and Tressa and Crystal DeMers; his ``pride and joys,'' eight 
grandchildren, Nicholas, Alexas, Brogen, Tyler, Lauren, Destany, 
Kaitlyn and one on the way; and his brothers Jim, Denny and Mike.
  Don had a zest for life and a smile and sense of humor that made 
everybody laugh. He liked skiing, dancing, reading and biking, but most 
of all, golf with Deborah. All who knew and loved him will miss Don 
greatly.

                          ____________________