[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHN TARTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Tartan and his 
career as a teacher, coach, counselor, administrator. He is recognized 
today at the formal dedication of John Tartan Elementary School, which 
is named in his honor.
  John was born November 6, 1924, in Ruth, Nevada. His parents were 
immigrants from Yugoslavia. In 1925, the family moved to McGill, 
Nevada, where John attended McGill Grade School and later White Pine 
High School in Ely. John graduated in 1943, and he enlisted in the 
Army-Air Corps. After the war, John won a spot on the ``Ogden Reds'' 
baseball team, a farm team for the Cincinnati Reds. There he earned the 
nickname ``Buck'' because he could run like a buck deer. That 
experience helped secure a baseball scholarship to Utah State 
University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1952.
  John was hired by White Pine High School to teach, before he was 
recalled into the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. John coached 
and played for the Walker AFB in Roswell, New Mexico. He deployed to 
Mendel, England. He was discharged from the armed services in July 
1953.
  One month later, he accepted a position at Basic High School in 
Henderson, teaching general science and biology. He also became head 
baseball coach and assistant football coach. Under John's direction, 
Basic won two State Championships in baseball. Basic won the Tri-State 
championship and then competed in the C.I.F. tournament in Southern 
California. This was a first for a Nevada school. In 1955 John was 
named the ``Helms Athletic Coach of the Year.'' John also introduced 
the slogan ``Home of the Basic Wolves'' on the school scoreboard. In 
addition to the scoreboard, John was the first coach to dress in team 
uniform, along with the bat-boy. This started a precedent at all the 
high schools in the Las Vegas valley.
  In 1957, John left Basic to pursue a Master's Degree at Arizona State 
University. He returned to Las Vegas and Rancho High School. John led 
the Rancho Baseball Teams to Three State Championships in a row.
  John moved out of the classroom and into administration. As a 
counselor at Rancho, John made it a point to help every student secure 
a scholarship. He handled all the senior class for twelve years. At 
Rancho High School, John served as Head of Counselors, and eventually 
as Assistant Principal.
  In 1976, John transferred to Valley High School as Assistant 
Principal and in 1978, he requested to be transferred to Las Vegas High 
School, because it was so similar to his own Alma Mater. He retired 
from Las Vegas High School in 1980.
  John is married to Judy Breeding Tartan for forty-two years. He has 
three children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to John Tartan on the floor 
of the House today. I thank him for his service.

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