[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING WISCONSIN'S 2005 OUTSTANDING OLDER WORKER

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise before 
you today to honor this year's Outstanding Older Worker for the State 
of Wisconsin, Norman Gudmundson. Continuing to work at age 78, Norm 
clearly deserves this recognition.
  Norm began violin lessons at the age of eight, and like his father 
before him, dreamt of being a great violinist one day. Norm had 16 
years of private training, and by the time he graduated high school, he 
was considered one of the most accomplished violinists in the State of 
Illinois after winning the state competition.
  Upon his graduation from high school in 1945, Norm joined the U.S. 
Army Infantry in the last days of World War II. Upon war's end, he was 
sent to Germany and served for 2 years rebuilding the war-torn country. 
After his military service, Norm received a full scholarship to play 
violin for the University of Miami, Florida's Orchestra. After college, 
Norm continued his career in music, playing with orchestras in Chicago, 
Denver, and Milwaukee.
  Norm retired from the orchestra but did not give up working. Norm is 
a dead-on Santa Claus, so it only seemed natural to donate his time to 
play St. Nick at local department stores around Christmas-time.
  Refusing to retire, Norm has recently worked for his own excavating 
business, repairing telephone lines in Colorado, inspecting cranberries 
for Ocean Spray, and manufacturing lawn equipment with Toro. Norm now 
works for Cardinal IG in Tomah, WI.
  And so I stand today to honor Wisconsin's Outstanding Older Worker 
for this year, Norman Gudmundson, who truly is a Renaissance man. For 
his contribution to the arts, his love of children, and his dedication 
to his community and America's workforce, I commend Norm for his 
generous spirit and remarkable commitment to service.




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