[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PAYING TRIBUTE TO WALTER M. HIGGINS III

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Walter 
M. Higgins III for his leadership as CEO of Sierra Pacific Resources, 
the parent company to both Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific 
Power Company.
  Walter's first career was as a U.S. naval officer. After obtaining a 
nuclear science degree from the U.S. Academy, he served as a nuclear 
submarine officer. After ending his active military service, Walter 
remained a naval reservist, ultimately retiring as a captain after a 
total of 29 years of service.
  The transition from military service to a civilian career was 
relatively easy for Walter, who obtained a position with Bechtel Corp., 
which was designing and constructing nuclear power plants, From there, 
he worked at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Portland General 
Electric and Louisville Gas & Electric. He expected to remain in 
Louisville as the CEO for Louisville Gas & Electric throughout the 
remainder of his career, but was surprised when utility companies began 
recruiting him. He subsequently accepted a job with Sierra Pacific 
Power Co. in 1993. He then moved to Atlanta to head a natural gas 
company, only to return to Reno in 2000 as CEO of Sierra Pacific 
Resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor my good friend Walter M. Higgins 
III. I applaud his professional success and efforts on behalf of the 
community; he has greatly enriched countless lives with his activism. I 
wish him the best in his future endeavors.

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