[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO WAYNE TIPPETS

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, on March 2, 2007, the Boise Veterans 
Administration Medical Center bade farewell to its director of 14 
years, Wayne Tippets. After a dedicated career with the VA spanning 37 
years, Wayne retired with plans to travel and spend time with his 
family. I also understand that his retirement will likely include 
golfing.
  Wayne served with the VA across the Nation, in places such as Iowa, 
Tennessee and California, before coming back to Idaho in 1993. He 
recognizes the importance of honesty, a strong work ethic, and the 
critical importance of competent, compassionate staff, and volunteers 
to the hospital's success. Wayne has handled the almost doubling of 
hospital patients over the past 14 years with a sense of pragmatism and 
drive to continue a history of responsible service to Idaho's veterans. 
Under his leadership, the Boise VAMC rebuilt and modernized the 
medical/surgical ward; constructed a behavioral health center, 
outpatient care building, and specialty care clinic; opened a larger 
and modernized emergency room; opened a new building in Twin Falls; 
opened a new administration building; opened a community-based 
outpatient clinic in Caldwell; and established a patient care access 
point in Salmon, ID, offering social worker and telepsychiatry 
services.
  Wayne was instrumental in these and other improvements and expansion 
of VA patient services throughout his tenure in Idaho. I wish him well 
in retirement and thank him for his long years of service to our 
Nation's veterans.

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