[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO CAL FRAZIER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
honor the life of Mr. Cal Frazier, a great Coloradan who passed away on 
January 30, 2006, at his home in Lakewood, CO. He will be missed by 
friends and loved ones, and his leadership in civic affairs and 
education will be missed as well.
  Orphaned as a teenager, Cal Frazier studied at Palmer High School in 
Colorado Springs and earned a scholarship to the University of Puget 
Sound in Tacoma, WA. There he met his future wife, Jean H. Frazier, and 
upon graduation became an elementary school teacher. This was the 
beginning of a long and illustrious career in the education system. 
While still in Washington, Cal taught high school, became a principal, 
a special education director, and earned his masters and doctoral 
degrees in education.
  After his stint in Washington, Colorado was fortunate to have him 
back. Cal began to teach in yet another capacity at the University of 
Colorado-Boulder, giving him experience in virtually all levels of our 
education system. In 1973, with all of his hard-earned expertise and 
credibility, he was appointed to serve as the commissioner of the 
Colorado Department of Education, beginning a 15-year term of service. 
Even after his official retirement, Cal continued to serve on boards 
and commissions devoting his life toward improving the education 
system.
  Those who knew Cal Frazier have fond memories of his remarkable 
impact on the education system. He was a role model and a leader on 
many levels. Beyond his many accomplishments in life, Cal Frazier 
taught Coloradans through his deeds as well as his words. He will be 
remembered as someone who did not need to be in the front of a 
classroom to be a teacher.
  I had the opportunity to work with Cal briefly on the ``Education to 
Elevate Colorado's Economy (E3) Summit'' last fall. I was struck 
immediately by his thoughtfulness, wisdom and humor. Given the critical 
importance of addressing the needs of our Colorado education community, 
I was heartened to know that people like Cal were at the helm.
  If the measure of a life well-led is the impact that a person has on 
others, then Cal's impact is broad and deep. We all owe him a debt of 
gratitude and respect, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating and remembering a life of service while expressing our 
deepest sympathies for his family's loss.

                          ____________________