[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 8 (Friday, January 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E49]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E49]]


           TRIBUTE TO CRATER LAKE SUPERINTENDENT CHUCK LUNDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 18, 2008

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
very special public servant of extraordinary ability and dedication, 
Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Chuck Lundy. This weekend I 
will attend in picturesque Klamath County, Oregon, a celebration in 
honor of Superintendent Lundy's retirement after 33 years of exemplary 
service to the National Park Service and millions of park visitors from 
around the world. As Superintendent Lundy officially hangs up his Park 
Service ranger hat for the last time, I want to share with you, Madam 
Speaker, and our colleagues some background about this special leader.
  Chuck Lundy was raised in the small farming town of Swartz Creek, 
Michigan, which cemented early in his life his affinity for rural areas 
and the natural beauty of our open spaces. Chuck's parents instilled in 
him at an early age the virtues of public service and hard work. His 
father, Frank, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a decorated 
veteran of the Pacific Campaign, and sustained serious wounds on the 
initial landing at Iwo Jima. Chuck himself enlisted and served in the 
U.S. Air Force from 1967-1971, and then graduated second in his class 
from Northern Arizona University with summa cum laude honors. Chuck 
actually began his professional career while still in college as a 
seasonal park ranger. After graduating, Chuck continued what ultimately 
would be a tremendous 33-year career of service in the National Park 
Service which concluded with nearly 10 years as Superintendent of 
Crater Lake National Park, which I'm proud to represent in Congress.
  During the course of Chuck's career at many national parks and 
monuments, he was presented many challenges and opportunities. It is 
well known among his peers, supervisors and local community leaders 
that each time Chuck accepted a new assignment, he left his prior one 
having solidly achieved the guiding principle of the Park Service: 
``Leave the Park better than you found it''. I can personally attest to 
the amazing progress made at Crater Lake National Park under Chuck's 
leadership, and I believe there is not a more dedicated or capable 
steward of our natural gems in the National Park Service than Chuck 
Lundy.
  In November of 1998, Chuck came to Crater Lake National Park as 
Superintendent. This is the same month I was first elected to Congress. 
As an avid park and outdoor recreation enthusiast myself, and having 
secured a seat on the Resources Committee my first term in the House, 
Chuck and I had the opportunity to work closely together early on. We 
became fast friends as Chuck constantly kept me posted on his vision to 
bring resources for the public to Crater Lake, one of the most 
spectacular natural wonders in the world.
  President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 signed the bill into law giving 
Crater Lake national park status. Crater Lake is located in southern 
Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range and it lies in a 
caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot high Mt. 
Mazama collapsed 7,700 years ago following a massive eruption. It is a 
place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and 
classroom. At 1,943 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the United 
States. At Crater Lake, Chuck had a great ``product'' to offer and 
showcase to the public, but maximizing the financial resources and 
procedural challenges to provide the public the best experience 
possible at an affordable price while still preserving this natural gem 
was no small task. Chuck's creativity, thoughtfulness and dedication to 
addressing all of these aspects resulted in great success.
  The list of major developments under Chuck's watch at Crater Lake is 
a long one, I'd like to note just a few of them: a fantastic Centennial 
Celebration for the park in 2002, which provided the springboard to 
launch the Crater Lake Trust, the park's distinguished philanthropic 
group; the creation of the Crater Lake license plate, a smashing 
success that led to the creation of a multi-million dollar endowment 
fund to support future operations at the park's new Science and 
Learning Center; keeping the Rim Redevelopment Project moving to 
relocate the parking lot away from close proximity to the lake along 
with beautiful architectural improvements; completion of an incredibly 
accurate bathymetry, map of the lake, which yields tremendous insights 
into the eruption of Mt. Mazama and the formation of the lake; and 
completion of a progressive general management plan for the park to 
replace a nearly 30-year-old predecessor. Chuck would deflect praise 
for these substantial accomplishments to others, and while he has 
benefited from the support of many great people, these successes would 
not have reached the heights they have without Chuck's leadership and 
deep involvement.
  My colleagues, Superintendent Chuck Lundy has been a tremendous 
servant to the National Park Service and the millions of people who 
enjoy our parks and monuments. On behalf of our country, I thank Chuck 
for all that he has done. Chuck will be sorely missed, and I wish him 
and the entire Lundy family many happy years to come.

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