[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 156 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2476]]
                     TRIBUTE TO MR. GEORGE GRUGETT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2005

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mr. 
George Grugett, who has served the Mississippi Valley region and our 
Nation for 25 years as executive vice president of the Mississippi 
Valley Flood Control Association. Up and down the river, residents and 
landowners have been lucky for the expertise and tireless advocacy of 
Mr. Grugett. His work on their behalf has made the region safer for 
them and their families, as well as preserved vital river 
transportation.
  The Mississippi River is a strange, and sometimes difficult, neighbor 
to us in southern Missouri. We are struck by her beauty in times of 
calm and heartbroken by her unstoppable power in times of flood. Living 
along the Mississippi River presents unique challenges, which Mr. 
Grugett has made his life's work to meet.
  The infrastructure needs of flood protection are staggering. Levees, 
pumping stations, locks and dams, berms, floodwalls and river 
management are all critical components of preserving our relationship 
with the Mississippi River. Managing the plans, construction and upkeep 
of these facilities demands a rare, dedicated individual. For 25 years, 
Mr. Grugett has been that person.
  Born and raised in west Tennessee, Mr. George Grugett is no stranger 
to the service of his country. He is a veteran of World War II, during 
which he served with the 12th Air Force in Europe. He was educated in 
civil engineering at the University of Alabama and the University of 
Mississippi and spent 35 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
before joining the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association.
  Mr. Grugett has received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and 
earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Rivers Museum. He 
has been a faithful guardian of our delicate relationship with the 
Mississippi River in southern Missouri. I thank him for his great 
service to the residents of Missouri's Eighth Congressional District 
and to the people of our Nation.

                          ____________________