[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 116 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO TOM MAYER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
honor the life of Boulder County Commissioner Tom Mayer of Louisville, 
CO, who passed away on June 22, 2007. He was one of our county's most 
compassionate advocates in civic affairs and will be greatly missed by 
his loved ones, friends and the community.
  Commissioner Tom Mayer was born March 22, 1951. In 1973, overlooking 
the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, Tom received his bachelor's 
degree in physics from Bard College. He later left his native New York 
and New Jersey to pursue a master's degree in atmospheric sciences from 
the University of Illinois in 1976. He then spent 26 years as a 
software engineer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in 
Boulder, CO.
  Though the white-bearded Boulder County commissioner savored the 
complexities of a good wine and a changing weather system, he held 
little tolerance for bad government and static bureaucracy. In 1992, 
Commissioner Mayer sought and won a seat on the Louisville City Council 
and went on to serve 11 years. During Tom's time on City Council he 
also served as a representative to the Boulder County Consortium of 
Cities, Boulder County Recycling and Compost Authority, and the U.S. 36 
Major Investment Study.
  It was Commissioner Mayer's unwavering commitment to health and human 
services, limiting growth and preservation of open space that drove him 
to change Boulder County government as a county commissioner. Tom 
passionately served as a commissioner from 2003 until his passing. His 
other commitments included: Boulder County Human Services Coordinating 
Council, Metro Area County Commissioners, Colorado Counties Inc., 
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, State of Colorado Child Welfare 
Allocation Committee and the National Association of Counties Health 
and Human Service Committee.
  We will miss Commissioner Mayer's style of leadership defined by his 
strong social conscience and overall sense of social justice. With a 
big heart and never-ending compassion he tirelessly fought for the 
underprivileged. Tom's intellect and generosity made him an admirable 
servant working for the public good with the right motivation. Tom 
helped make Boulder County a better place for all of us.
  If the measure of a life well-lived is the impact that a person has 
on others, then Tom's impact is broad and deep. We all owe him a debt 
of gratitude and respect, and I am particularly indebted to him for his 
early support of my work in public service. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in celebrating and remembering his life while expressing our deepest 
sympathies to his family for their loss.

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