[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRIBUTE TO DICK RICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2007

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. 
Dick Rice of Bedford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rice was a longtime 
Commissioner of Bedford County before his passing last spring. He was 
known for his boundless energy, his optimistic attitude, a wonderful 
singing voice and the many issues he championed as a leader of his 
community. One of those issues dear to Mr. Rice was education. He 
believed strongly in the importance of providing local, high quality 
post-secondary education at an affordable cost. But he also showed his 
commitment by making a real difference in the lives of students. He 
found joy in presenting students with scholarships, tuition assistance 
awards, and emergency book funding.
  Mr. Rice played a critical role in the development of the Bedford 
County Campus of Allegany College. By serving on the Bedford County 
Regional Education Foundation he was able to help make significant 
accomplishments. When the Bedford County Campus was founded in 1990, 
Bedford County ranked 64th out of 67 Pennsylvania counties in the 
percentage of high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education. 
Today, Bedford County is ranked 34th. The presence of a local campus 
has encouraged many area students to begin or continue their 
educational journeys close to home. Since 1990, more than 6,500 people 
have taken classes through the Bedford County Campus. The Foundation 
has worked to provide more than $190,000 to more than 700 of those 
students over the past 11 years. It is fitting that the Foundation has 
now established the Dick M. Rice Memorial Scholarship Endowment, to 
benefit Bedford County residents who attend Allegany College.
  To cite each accomplishment and individual contribution that Dick has 
been a part of would take a very long time. His involvement in the 
educational community over the years has been immense and has touched 
numerous lives. We are all very grateful for his effort toward positive 
enrichment of Bedford County, and I offer my sincerest sympathies for 
the loss of such a great citizen.

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