[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S14482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DICK SMITH

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, from humble beginnings as a seasonal 
fire fighter in Wyoming in the 1970s, Dick Smith built a fine career 
and developed an outstanding reputation as a Forest Service employee 
over his 35 years at the Agency. He retired from Federal service this 
fall, after achieving the position of Forest Supervisor for the Boise 
National Forest. Although we are thrilled that he is able to now enjoy 
retirement, his absence will indeed be felt, to the detriment of the 
Idaho foresting community. Before taking a position in the Clearwater 
National Forest, Dick worked seasonally in Alaska, Minnesota, and 
Wyoming. In the 1970s and 1980s, he developed a strong foundation in 
forest management, silviculture, fire and project planning and obtained 
a Master of Science in Forest Ecology. He worked for 15 years as a 
Forest Silviculturalist. From 1989 to 1999, Dick served as District 
Ranger in charge of overall management of the 460,000 acre Plains/
Thompson Falls District of the Lolo NF, in Plains, MT. During his 
tenure at this position, he earned a number of awards including the 
Forest Service Director's Excellence Award for ``Positive Action and 
Community Leadership'' for the District's mineral management program 
and the Forest Service Northern Regional Forester's Honor Award for 
``Personal and Professional Excellence.'' His District received the 
1995 National Salvage Award for effectively taking advantage of salvage 
opportunities in an environmentally sensitive manner following large 
bark beetle outbreaks and significant wildfire activity on the unit 
under his direction.
  It is natural that such an individual would rise to the top in his 
agency, and Dick did exactly that. In 1999, the Forest Service brought 
him here to Washington to serve on the policy analysis staff, and it 
was at this time that I, too, was able to benefit from his hard work 
and expertise--directly. When I was first elected to the Senate, Dick 
came to work for me as a Brookings Institute Fellow for 6 months and I 
greatly benefited from his expertise and experience.
  He returned to Idaho and was selected to serve as Supervisor of the 
2.6 million acre Boise National Forest in 2003. This position entails 
coordinating forest management and supervisory activities with state 
agencies, other Federal agencies and the tribes. Then-Governor Dirk 
Kempthorne appointed him to serve on the board of the Idaho Rural 
Partnership and the Citizens Advisory Panel to the Policy Analysis 
Group for the University of Idaho.
  While under Dick's leadership, the Boise National Forest was one of 
the first national forests to complete and implement a fuels management 
project under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. Dick's diligence and 
commitment to intentional and effective forest management has placed 
the Boise National Forest at the forefront of implementing hazardous 
fuels treatment and initiatives that support aquatic restoration, 
noxious weed mitigation and recreation management. These endeavors are 
all the more challenging considering the growing wildland urban 
interface that characterizes the Boise National Forest.
  While excelling at his job, Dick maintained his involvement in 
professional and community organizations. In addition to membership in 
the American Society of Foresters, Dick has been involved in Boy 
Scouts, Little League, Jaycees, Lions Club, and various leadership 
positions with the Rotary Club in the communities in which he has lived 
over the years.
  Dick and his wife, Sandy, plan to stay in the Boise area for 
retirement, enjoying the outdoors hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking 
and skiing--fitting pursuits for a man who has worked so hard to 
preserve and manage Idaho's beautiful natural resources for future 
generations. I appreciate Dick's wisdom and insight over the years; I 
have depended on his analysis and advice on many forest management 
issues, and I wish him and Sandy well in the next chapter of their 
lives.

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