[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ROBERT F. RIORDAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TODD TIAHRT-

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, 
Robert F. Riordan, who is retiring after many years of active 
involvement in the Kansas business community. Bob is set to retire at 
the end of the year as the head of government relations for Black & 
Veatch, a leader in energy and water industries, and one of Kansas's 
largest businesses.
  Bob is the eldest of Francis Xavier and Elizabeth Parris Riordan's 
four sons. He was raised in Wichita and Salina, KS. Despite the loss of 
his father when Bob was only 13 years old, he excelled in academics and 
sports while at Sacred Heart High School in Salina. At Sacred Heart, he 
was captain of the basketball team, a member of the 1958 American 
Legion State Champions, and valedictorian of his class.
  Upon graduation from Sacred Heart in 1960, he attended the United 
States Naval Academy. Bob received his commission as an ensign in 1964 
upon his graduation from Annapolis. He married Pamela Elizabeth Sutton, 
and together they have three children and three grandchildren, with two 
more grandchildren on the way. Bob served his country for 11 years 
while on active duty as a naval officer. He made numerous deployments 
to Vietnam and saw much combat. His deployments included serving on the 
USS Haverfield (DER 393) and the USS New Orleans (LPH-11). While on 
active duty, he achieved the rank of lieutenant commander, a rank he 
made as an early selectee.
  Wanting to spend more time with his family, Bob returned to Kansas 
after 11 years of service. Bob has always put his family first, and is 
a loving and caring husband and father. Throughout the years, he made 
financial and professional sacrifices to make sure that his 
relationship with his family came first.
  Bob spent 3 years in Salina, working for Marymount College and the 
engineering firm of Wilson & Sons. While in Salina, he became 
interested in our Nation's energy policies and alternative energy. He 
started his own business for alternative energy in Salina before being 
appointed to a position with the then Kansas Department of Energy. 
After leaving his appointment, he moved to Lawrence, KS, and spent 
several years with the University of Kansas developing various forms of 
alternative energy. In 1982, Bob began doing government relations work 
for Kansas Power & Light, and was central to the development of their 
energy policies. While at Kansas Power & Light, Bob became vice 
president of operations, and helped to create a successful strategy to 
bring economically efficient power to Kansas.
  In 1991, Bob left Kansas Power & Light to help create a fuel-cell 
company based out of Connecticut. He then came to work with Black & 
Veatch, starting with a project to build a power plant in Florida. He 
returned to Kansas in 1994 as head of Black & Veatch's government 
relations, and has continued in this position to the present day. 
Throughout his time at Black & Veatch, I have had the opportunity and 
privilege to work with Bob on a wide range of exciting projects.
  Throughout his life, Bob has always been a man of integrity, honor, 
and loyalty. Bob's word is his pledge. More importantly, Bob will do 
something or take some action simply because it is the right thing to 
do. Bob never carries a grudge, and he never keeps score of what he has 
done for others. Through his service to his country, dedication to his 
career, and devotion to his family and friends, he exemplifies all that 
is best about Kansans.
  I would like to wish Bob, and his wife Pam, all the best as they 
enter this new chapter of their lives.

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