[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ON THE PASSING OF BRYAN JOHNSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2008

  Ms. HOOLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Bryan Johnston--a man the capital city's daily newspaper, the Statesman 
Journal, referred to as ``Salem's Mr. Fix-it.'' Bryan Johnston didn't 
just fill the needs of Salem, but of the entire state of Oregon as 
well.
  He was, as the Statesman Journal so aptly put it, the ``go-to guy'': 
``Need someone to fill in as Willamette University president? Call on 
Bryan. Need someone to give a commencement address? Call on Bryan. Need 
someone to run a state agency? Call on Bryan. Need someone to lead a 
school bond-measure campaign? Call on Bryan. And much, much more.''
  Bryan's reason for getting up in the morning was to serve others: to 
raise a family; to love and support a wife; to bring his neighbors 
together; to achieve results; to help resolve issues and disputes.
  Bryan had a deep and unabashed belief in public service.
  He deeply believed that education was the key to a bright future. He 
was co-chair of the Salem Keizer School Construction Bond Steering 
Committee and the Pass the School Bond Committee. He knew that a family 
provided the backbone to a youngster's life and so worked for the 
Family Building Blocks Capital Campaign. He also knew that as a family 
served to nurture growing kids, so a community could serve to nurture 
local families. He served on the Salem Community Development 
Corporation and Chamber of Commerce as well as worked with Marion Polk 
Legal Aid and the Neighbor-to-Neighbor organization. Last, but 
certainly not least, Bryan Johnston's faith was important to him as was 
his service for his faith community.
  Bryan knew how to work hard, work effectively, work with humor and 
work with warmth. He was kind at the right times and witty at other 
right times.
  Mostly, I will remember Bryan for always looking forward and moving 
forward--no obstacle was too great and no odds were too long.
  Bryan's passing comes as he was about to start his ``dream job'' as 
president of St. Martin's College outside Tacoma. But he did Oregon's 
``dream job'' all along.
  A poem by Hafiz that aptly describes Bryan's generosity:

     Even after all this time
     The sun never says to the earth,
     ``You owe me.''
     Look what happens with a love like that.
     It lights up the whole world.

  And Bryan lit up our world for his brief time in it--without 
expecting anything in return. We can all learn from Bryan's example and 
live to pay the debt forward.
  He is survived by his wife of over 29 years, Anne, and their four 
children, and the thousands of Oregonians whose lives he touched 
through his service.

                          ____________________