[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 57 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LOREN MAXEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2008

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker. I rise today to honor Loren Maxey, who 
was born into a farm family in Illinois in 1932. His knack for 
inventing led to a college scholarship, but he interrupted college to 
enter the Navy, serving 4 years in the early 1950s. He sailed on a 
vessel taking part in the nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific, seeing 
up close the results of those tests, and finishing his service as a 
petty officer first class.
  Loren then finished a degree in agricultural engineering at the 
University of Illinois, but chance led to meeting his future wife Kathy 
at her family farm in Greeley, Colorado. They moved to Greeley to take 
over the farm in 1958.
  Loren's interest in practical engineering led to further studies in 
that field, then employment with Forney Industries in aircraft 
manufacturing, which tied in with another lifelong interest in being a 
pilot himself. He gained more experience in the agricultural 
engineering field, and in 1969 started his own company to design, 
custom build, and service agricultural equipment and later. machinery 
for snow sports. Maxey Companies continues to flourish, now with 
Loren's son at the helm, employing some 45 people. Their customers are 
local, national, and international. Over the years Loren has obtained 
three patents himself on practical improvements to increase farm 
productivity, and, being in Colorado, to groom snowmobile trails.
  Along the way, Loren made time to serve on the Ft. Collins City 
Council, and Chamber of Commerce, as president of the East Larimer 
County Water District Board and as a director of the North Poudre 
Irrigation District. He kept his hand in farming and has spent, so far, 
14 years on the county fair board.
  His love of flying included 40 years as a director and officer of the 
local airpark. Loren provided a lesson in courage when he survived a 
plane crash in his late forties that severely burned him and was 
supposed to leave him unable to walk. Loren forced himself to overcome 
the pain and injuries, and learned to walk again.
  He has long been active in local and statewide politics. Rounding out 
his active volunteer life, he has served as church elder and couples 
group leader.
  Loren and Kathy have three children and eight grandchildren who are 
all nearby in northern Colorado. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor 
Loren Maxey, a practical inventor, engineer, pilot, husband, father, 
and active contributor of time and talent to his country and community.

                          ____________________