[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E84-E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF JOYCE SMITH STEVENS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2007

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's 
most colorful characters, Joyce Smith Stevens. Joyce is known for her 
outspoken devotion to local environmental issues, and for her wonderful 
sense of humor.
  Joyce was born in Seattle, WA, in 1927. She graduated from the 
University of Washington in 1954 with a degree in architecture. 
Encountering gender discrimination in this ``man's field,'' and looking 
at the experiences of female civilians working for the government, she 
decided that she would be happier in that environment. As a single 
mother, she moved to Carmel, CA, in 1962 and took a job as Post 
Engineer at Fort Ord, working there until her retirement more than 20 
years later.
  One of Joyce's proudest achievements was designing the Post Chapel at 
Fort Hunter Liggett. It is located near the Hacienda, which was 
designed by another female California architect, Julia Morgan. She also 
convinced, pestered, actually, the Army into protecting some rare 
native plant habitat at Fort Ord. Because of her persistence she had 
the satisfaction of seeing Fort Ord receive ecology awards.
  Joyce's commitment to the community is unparalleled. She appointed 
herself full-time activist to save everything we all love about the 
Monterey Peninsula. As chair of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, 
she was devoted to protecting our local natural setting. She served on 
the Board of Trustees of Big Sur Land Trust, which is dedicated to 
preserving the wild lands of Big Sur. Joyce joined Pine Watch to 
educate people about the significance of our native Monterey Pine 
Forest, with the goal of creating a Monterey Pine State Park.
  For over 20 years Joyce served on the Carmel Area Wastewater 
District. She became known as the ``Sewer Queen'' for her work to save 
the Carmel River by encouraging the increased use of treated wastewater 
and thus reduce pumping from the river. She formed the Dunes Coalition 
to save the Monterey Bay shores from development. Eventually this 
concept grew into the Monterey Bay State Shore. She also created the 
Hatton Canyon Coalition to preserve the scenic beauty of Carmel and the 
canyon.
  Joyce was very active in the local chapter of the American Institute 
of Architects and was one of the founders of AIA's Carmel Sand Castle 
Contest--a great Carmel tradition. It is generally suspected that she 
volunteered to

[[Page E85]]

serve as a judge in order to solicit bribes. However it started, it has 
become part of the fun of the event for judges to offer to accept 
bribes from the various competitors, champagne being a favorite.
  In all of these activities, she never hesitates to roll up her 
sleeves and do the actual work, whether it is getting up at 5 a.m. to 
pull weeds, or working on dune planting during winter storms. She uses 
her graphics skills to convince the public that they don't want to see 
resorts on the beaches, freeways in the canyons, and mega-mansions all 
over our native forest habitat. Joyce is a gem among gems, and we are 
indebted to her for her fierce devotion to the importance and the 
beauty of our natural resources.

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