[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E24-E25]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FELD FAMILY OWNERSHIP OF THE 
               RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2008

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Feld 
Family, who, for forty years have preserved the legacy of the circus 
and provided Americans with quality family entertainment. On November 
11, 1967, Irvin Feld fulfilled a life long dream by purchasing the 
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which for years made its 
winter home in Sarasota, Florida. Quickly, Irvin Feld made changes to 
modernize the show and ushered in the era of modern American 
entertainment.
  An astute promoter, Irvin Feld designed a new two-year tour system 
for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He purchased the Circus 
Williams and created a second unit of Ringling Bros. equal in size, 
scope, and quality to the first. The second unit showcased the 
incredible talents of Gunther Gebel-Williams, who captivated American 
audiences for 30 years.
  Just like the great Barnum, Feld devised national advertising 
campaigns and creative public relations, to reinstate the Ringling 
circus as America's living treasure. It is not surprising that Irvin 
Feld was dubbed ``The Greatest Showman on Earth.''
  To save the art of clowning from extinction, Irvin Feld founded the 
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1968. Originally 
located in Venice, Florida, then relocated to Baraboo, Wisconsin and 
finally, Sarasota, Florida it was the world's first and only ``Clown 
College.''
  In 1970, Feld's son, Kenneth, joined the organization and was made a 
co-producer in 1973. When Irvin Feld suddenly died on September 6,1984, 
Kenneth Feld immediately assumed control and has surpassed the level of 
entertainment excellence set by his father and other legendary showmen 
before him. Expanding the circus, he instituted a third unit that 
travels all across America.
  Today, Kenneth Feld is the largest provider of live action family 
entertainment in the world. The Feld legacy continues through the third 
generation with Kenneth Feld's daughters, Nicole and Alana, who work to 
maintain the high quality, family-focused productions that have been 
the hallmark of the ``Greatest Show on Earth.''

[[Page E25]]

  The Feld's support school curriculum programs and have developed 
Circus Fit, a national youth fitness program. To help preserve the 
Asian elephant, Kenneth Feld established the Center for Elephant 
Conservation (CEC) in central Florida in 1995. This state-of-the-art 
breeding and retirement facility is dedicated to the conservation, 
breeding, and study of the Asian elephant.
  In each generation, the Feld family has continued to capture children 
of all ages by preserving the great American circus and led the 
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth, 
into the 21st century.
  I thank my colleagues for joining me in recognizing the contributions 
of the Feld Family to American culture and entertainment.

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