[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 184 (Tuesday, December 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING RICHARD SCHNEIDER OF SONOMA, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Richard Schneider, who has been recognized as the City of Sonoma's 2007 
Treasure Artist of the Year. Mr. Schneider is being recognized for his 
contributions to Sonoma and his leadership of the Sonoma Hometown Band.
  Mr. Schneider was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, but moved to northern 
California at a young age when his father was transferred to work at 
Alcatraz Federal Prison. At the end of the war, the family moved north 
to Fields Landing in Humboldt County, where Mr. Schneider was raised in 
this small town and attended the local school. In 1949, the family 
moved to Eureka, where he participated in a band for the first time.
  After graduating from Eureka High School in 1954, Mr. Schneider 
joined the Navy hoping to become a member of the Navy Drum and Bugle 
Corps. He was accepted, but was subsequently assigned to the Naval 
Communications School. After completing his training, he spent 2 years 
in Korea and 2 years in Germany. In 1959, he left the Navy and began 
attending Humboldt State University, where he received a bachelor of 
arts degree in music in 1963.
  After completing college, Mr. Schneider began teaching music in the 
Central Valley, first in Hanford and then as a full time teacher at 
three different schools in Corcoran. In 1965, he moved to Sonoma after 
being hired to teach at local schools. The following year, he was 
transferred to the high school, where he founded the high school band 
with strong support from Principal Max Murray.
  In 1967, Mr. Schneider founded the Sonoma Hometown Band in order to 
provide a musical group for the 4th of July parade. The band was 
initially made up of 25 high school students, but has gradually 
expanded as former students returned to participate and members of the 
community joined. Today, the band gives a half-dozen performances each 
year, bringing together musicians of all ages under Mr. Schneider's 
direction. From concerts at the Sebastiani Theatre to the 4th of July, 
the Sonoma Hometown Band has become an important fixture in Sonoma 
under Mr. Schneider's leadership.
  Madam Speaker, at this time it is appropriate that we congratulate 
Mr. Schneider for being recognized as the City of Sonoma's 2007 
Treasure Artist of the Year. As the leader of the Hometown Band, he has 
brought his community an exciting musical group catering to all ages, 
interests and skill levels.

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