[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 31 (Monday, February 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COMMENDING MR. GARY STILTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 23, 2009

  Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Gary Stilts, 
Wappapello Lake Operations Manage for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
Mr. Stilts is retiring this week after a long and distinguished career 
of more than 30 years of federal service. Nearly 28 of those years have 
been in the service of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello 
Lake in the Eighth Congressional District.
  During his time at Wappapello, Mr. Stilts has dramatically improved 
public access to the natural resources offered at the lake, and he has 
forged key local partnerships that enabled the placement of fishing 
piers, access points, and a fish cleaning station at the lake. Major 
flood control improvements and an important transportation 
infrastructure project have been implemented at Wappapello Lake during 
his term of service as well.
  The remarkable thing about Mr. Stilts has been his ability to make 
Wappapello Lake a true member of the local community. The lake is 
important to families, for recreation, and to businesses, for the 
tourism it draws. Under Mr. Stilts's leadership, Wappapello Lake twice 
won the Natural Resources Project of the Year Award, in 1999 and again 
in 2008.
  In a district with as many acres of fields, forests and, yes, lakes, 
as the Eighth Congressional District of Missouri, good stewardship is 
at the pinnacle of importance. Mr. Stilts has left his mark on 
Wappapello Lake and the surrounding area by first and foremost being a 
good steward. His hard work and good advocacy for Wappapello Lake have 
made it an important fixture on the list of the very best natural 
resources in our state. I wish him the best in his retirement and thank 
him for his excellent service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 
to the citizens of the Eighth Congressional District of Missouri.

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