[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 87 (Friday, May 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THANKING KANSAS BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DIRECTOR LARRY WELCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2007

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, Kansas was once known for being 
part of the Wild West. Widespread lawlessness allowed for cattle 
rustlers and wild cowboys in towns like Abilene and Dodge City. Our 
great state also has a history of lawmen known for settling issues with 
a personalized style of law enforcement. Sheriffs Wyatt Earp and Wild 
Bill Hickok faced threats from individuals bent on destroying a 
peaceful way of life. The retiring Director of the Kansas Bureau of 
Investigation is part of this storied tradition of making Kansas a 
state where families can pursue a way of life envied by others. Today, 
Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Larry Welch's service as a leader and 
innovator in law enforcement.
  Director Welch and I share a similar academic background. We both 
received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of 
Kansas. Director Welch though, went on to serve his country in a noble 
profession. Where did I go wrong, becoming a lawyer then a banker and 
then a politician? In 1961, he was appointed as a special agent with 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For 25 years, his tireless 
commitment to justice led him around the country. Before returning to 
Kansas, he served in FBI assignments in Knoxville, Tennessee; 
Washington, DC; Miami, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; San Juan, 
Puerto Rico; San Antonio, Texas; and McAllen, Texas.
  During his lengthy service with the FBI, Director Welch was charged 
with supervising all FBI operations in Kansas. After his time with the 
FBI, he began work as associate director at the Kansas Law Enforcement 
Training Center. While at the training center he was promoted to 
Director and provided leadership in this position for nearly 5 years 
before he accepted the appointment by Attorney General Robert Stephan 
as director of the KBI. He was reappointed KBI director by Attorney 
General Carla Stovall in 1995 and by Attorney General Phill Kline in 
2003.
  Director Welch has been a strong advocate in the fight against 
methamphetamine and its devastating impact on communities across 
Kansas. He recognized the significant harm and damage this poison 
inflicts on families and has made combating the manufacture and use of 
meth a priority of the KBI under his administration. Seizures of meth 
labs have drastically decreased in our state during the past several 
years. This can only be attributed to the effectiveness of law 
enforcement in Kansas making the production of meth an extremely risky 
business. The humble and relentless man that Director Welch is, could 
be seen when he quickly responded to compliments of the KBI's many lab 
seizures by explaining that meth is still coming in from foreign 
sources and that there was still much work to be done to protect 
Kansans from this destructive drug.
  I would be remiss if I did not include in a tribute to this man, any 
mention of the care he has shown to the law enforcement community in 
Kansas. His compassion is well known throughout the state. He is 
consistently the first to express sympathies, in person, to families 
who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. Many in this field of 
work, whether in the city police, sheriff's department, or Highway 
Patrol, consider Larry Welch a friend and an advisor.
  Director Welch has given back to his state and country for 46 years 
with much of his career dedicated to making Kansas a safe and desirable 
place to live and visit. In the many important roles he filled in his 
life, he served out of a sense of duty. I join Larry Welch's many 
friends and admirers in thanking a great man for great service.

                          ____________________