[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E58]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PAYING TRIBUTE TO CHARLES AND PATRICIA WILLIAMS FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER 
                  EFFORTS TO PRESERVE RED ROCK CANYON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles and Patricia 
Williams, retirees from the Las Vegas community, who have given 
countless hours of service in helping preserve the Red Rock Canyon 
National Conservation Area.
  Chuck and Pat moved to Las Vegas in 1995 and started their love 
affair with the canyon. They enjoyed hiking there every weekend and, 
after Chuck's retirement in 1999, they decided it was time to repay Red 
Rock Canyon for the enjoyment that they had received. They began 
regularly volunteering their time and have since contributed over 
13,000 hours of service dedicated to area preservation, improvement, 
and restoration.
  Both Chuck and Pat are active in the volunteer organization Friends 
of Red Rock Canyon, a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving the 
canyon. They perform a wide range of tasks including removing graffiti 
and trash, maintaining the authorized trail system, and rebuilding and 
repairing miles of trails. Chuck was president of the group from 2000 
to 2002 and continues to participate in cultural site documentation and 
monitoring, trail rehabilitation and work event coordination; Pat has 
been the membership coordinator since 2000 and was elected president in 
2004.
  In 2002, Chuck and Pat were recipients of the Bureau of Land 
Managements National Volunteer Award, ``Making a Difference on Public 
Lands,'' and later in 2004 they received ``The Presidents Call to 
Service Award,'' for their volunteer contributions.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor this couple 
and their contributions to the protection of the environment of the 
state of Nevada.

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