[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE: RETIREMENT OF PAUL BLEWETT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2005

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Paul 
Blewett, a public school teacher who has served the young people of the 
Bark River Harris School District in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the 
past 42\1/2\ years and has made a significant contribution to his 
professional organization.
  Paul Blewett was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on January 21, 1940 to 
the late Fred and Evelyn Blewett. He graduated from Ishpeming High 
School in 1958 and received his BA and Masters Degree from Northern 
Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. After being awarded his 
Professional Teaching Certificate in 1963, he entered the challenging 
and rewarding field of teaching in the Bark River Harris Public School 
System in Bark River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
  Mr. Blewett's first position at Bark River Harris Schools began a 
very long and successful career and a true commitment to his community. 
Mr. Blewett taught Algebra I and II, General Math, Geometry, and 
Advance Mathematics for over 42 years to students in the Bark River 
Harris High School along with being the driver education instructor for 
40 of those years. Paul made a commitment to his students in the 
classroom and to their activities outside of the regular classroom. 
They respected him as a teacher and appreciated the guidance and 
counseling that he provided.
  Aside from his full time teaching responsibilities, Mr. Blewett also 
made a major commitment to his professional organization and 
contributed to the development and the building of the Michigan 
Education Association as one of the leading professional education 
organizations in the nation. Mr. Blewett was recognized by his 
colleagues for his talent, hard work and willingness to participate 
because they elected him to serve as the local Education Association 
President, Negotiator, Regional Council President, President and 
Treasurer of the Upper Peninsula Education Association, a member of the 
Board of Directors for the Michigan Education Association for thirteen 
years, a delegate to National Education Association Representative 
Assembly and a delegate to the State Representative Assembly for 30 
years. He was also involved in the Political Action Committee of the 
Michigan Education Association. While doing all of this, Mr. Blewett 
held many other roles within his professional educational organization.
  With so much time contributed to his teaching, community and 
professional development, Mr. Blewett extended family was his students 
and colleagues until he met a lovely nurse from Wisconsin. In April of 
2003 he married Vera and gained a wonderful stepson, Lyndon. Mr. 
Blewett made time to pursue his love for photography. As a special 
project, he made a photographic record of many events in school to 
capture current student life with the intent of preserving history. In 
addition to exploring his craft through creative means, his natural 
talent made him in-demand for weddings and social events.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to say ``Thank You'' and recognize this 
teacher for his dedication to his students and his professional 
involvement with the Michigan Education Association at all levels of 
responsibilities. Paul's involvement in public education and his 
professional organization made a difference in the delivery and 
development of public education for the Upper Peninsula and the State 
of Michigan. We thank Paul for his commitment, his friendship and we 
wish him and his wife Vera the best in retirement.




                          ____________________