[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 17 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E201-E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF GEORGE H. CARDINET, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2007

  Mr.  GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, it was with great 
sadness that I learned of the passing of George Cardinet on January 19, 
2007. California has lost a tireless leader whose many contributions as 
an outspoken advocate for trails and open space will be remembered and 
revered by the citizens of Contra Costa County and all who knew him.
  George Cardinet was born on April 8, 1909, in San Francisco, 
California, to George H. Cardinet, co-founder of the Cardinet Candy 
Company, and Mary de Sales Cardinet. George succeeded his father as 
President of the company, and retired as a candy maker but his passion 
has long been for horses and trails and open space.
  In 1940 George bought a ranch in Concord, California, which backed up 
to Mt. Diablo and began forging trails in what is now Mt. Diablo State 
Park. Each of the single-track trails on the eastern slope of the 
mountain was hand-built by George and his fellow horsemen. George was 
an avid equestrian and for 65 years worked tirelessly as an advocate 
for the preservation of public parks and the development of riding and 
hiking trails.
  There are more than 200 miles of trails throughout the East Bay that 
Cardinet helped build. George was one of the leaders of the California 
State Trails Plan and his trail development in Contra Costa County 
served as a model for the California State Riding and Hiking Trails Act 
of 1945, and the California Recreational Trails Act of 1974. In 1968 he 
was instrumental in drafting the National Trails Act,

[[Page E202]]

and was invited to the bill signing by President Lyndon Johnson. George 
insisted on the inclusion of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail 
into the National Trails Act as a sister trail to the Appalachian Trail 
in the east.
  George Cardinet initiated the establishment of the Juan Bautista De 
Anza National Historic Trail which was secured by law in 1990. He 
worked on the management plan and was Chairman of the Board of Amigos 
De Anza support group for the trail. He was honored at the American 
Trails Conference in November, 1998, by John Horsly, Deputy Director of 
the Department of Transportation, for his initiative in organizing an 
international relay on horseback to highlight the De Anza Trail. Later 
under George's leadership, the De Anza Trail was designated a 
Millennium Trail and he was again invited to the White House. In 
appreciation of his efforts, First Lady Hillary Clinton presented him 
with a certificate that stated, in part, ``Cardinet's leadership will 
play an important role in achieving the goal of a nationwide network of 
trails that preserve open spaces, interpret history and culture, and 
promote alternative transportation routes as well as recreation and 
tourism.''
  George Cardinet worked with the East Bay Regional Park District to 
annex portions of Contra Costa County with the park district to 
establish trail links between East Bay Regional Parks and Mt. Diablo 
State Park. For his longstanding and sustained advocacy of trails, 
George has become known as the Father of California Trails by the 
California State Horsemen's Association, and the Grandfather of the 
Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail as well as the Grandfather of 
National Trails by the National Park Service.
  Mr. Cardinet is survived by a brother, Walter M. Cardinet of Auburn, 
a son, Dr. George H. Cardinet III and daughter-in-law, Claudia Cardinet 
of Winters; and daughters Maureen Casteel and Michele Tomasulo and 
sons-in-law, Gary Casteel and Anthony Tomasulo, all of Concord.
  Madam Speaker, because of George Cardinet's countless contributions 
as an open space and trail advocate, it is appropriate for us to honor 
him today.

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