[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY COLLEGE TRUSTEES CHUCK BEEMAN AND 
                             ALLEN GRESHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I would like today to pay 
special tribute to San Bernardino Community College District Trustees 
Chuck Beeman and Allen Gresham, who over the past several decades have 
overseen the rapid growth and maturing of the major community colleges 
in my district in California.
  A respected attorney in San Bernardino County, Allen Gresham was 
first elected as college trustee in 1971 and is now the third-longest-
serving in California. Chuck Beeman, a retired pharmacist and owner of 
Beeman's Pharmacy, was appointed to the board in 1983. The two men are 
leaving the board this year after a combined 62 years of public 
service.
  While they have been on the board, the district's two campuses have 
grown significantly--now serving more than 18,000 students with nearly 
500 full- and part-time faculty members. Since Allen Gresham joined the 
board, more than 150,000 students have received degrees and 
certificates. The two campuses--San Bernardino Valley College and 
Crafton Hills College--have two of the most diverse student bodies in 
California.
  As the student body has grown, Mr. Gresham and Mr. Beeman have led 
the board of trustees in meeting their needs through a continuing 
building program that has expanded and significantly modernized both 
campuses. With the help of Federal Emergency Management Agency 
earthquake mitigation funding, Valley College has completely remade its 
central facilities, building a new library, Health and Human Sciences 
Building, administration building and a 37,000-square-foot Campus 
Center. A new art building with a modern gallery--named in honor of 
Clara and Allen Gresham for their devotion to art--opened last year.
  At Crafton Hills College, ground was recently broken for a new 
library and learning resource center, as well as a new swimming center. 
The district has also built a new central headquarters at the former 
Norton Air Force Base and upgraded facilities for its public-access 
television and radio station, KVCR--which provides the only broadcast 
local news for San Bernardino County. In addition, the college district 
has opened a nationally-recognized academy at the former air base to 
give firefighters hands-on training in dealing with jet fuel and 
aircraft fires.
  Madam Speaker, wary California taxpayers have turned back 
construction bond measures for many cities and school districts in 
recent years. But thanks in large part to the leadership of Allen 
Gresham and Chuck Beeman, San Bernardino County taxpayers gave solid 
approval to a $190 million bond in 2002 and a $500 million bond just 
this year to continue the expansion of these fine college campuses.
  In addition to academic excellence, the college district has won 
intercollegiate athletics championships in many sports. These 
accomplishments have especially delighted Chuck Beeman, who came within 
a fraction of a second of qualifying for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team and 
taught track at Valley College for many years. The college's track was 
named in Mr. Beeman's honor last year.
  Madam Speaker, Allen Gresham and Chuck Beeman can look back with 
pride as they come to the end of their time on the San Bernardino 
Community College District Board of Trustees. Please join me in 
saluting them for their decades of service to education and our 
community and wishing them well in their future endeavors.

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