[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


TRIBUTE TO KENT OLSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE 
                         AGENTS OF NORTH DAKOTA

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                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 2009

  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the distinguished career 
of Kent Olson. I am pleased to have known Kent Olson for the many years 
he served as the Executive Director of the Professional Insurance 
Agents of North Dakota working with him on important insurance issues 
for North Dakota farmers.
  Kent Olson is a model of the highest standards of honesty, integrity 
and professionalism. As Mr. Olson prepares to begin retirement, I want 
to pay tribute to his leadership of the professional insurance agents 
in North Dakota focusing on the importance of quality continuing 
education for its members that translated into excellent service for 
families and farmers in North Dakota. Throughout the years, quality 
education for professional insurance agents has been known by one name: 
Kent Olson.
  Among his many achievements, Kent Olson is an expert in crop 
insurance and has been passionate in support of the key role that crop 
insurance plays in the farming economy of our state and of our entire 
nation.
  In addition to his work in our state, Kent has contributed his many 
talents to the national PIA agents association, putting on seminars and 
getting personally involved every year. His involvement typifies his 
belief in our democracy and embodies the motto of PIA as being, ``Local 
Agents Serving Main Street America.'' Kent believes passionately in the 
value that local professional insurance agents always provide. And with 
equal passion, he believes that insurance should continue to be 
regulated by the State, not by the federal government.
  I am pleased to note that although Kent will be retiring, he will 
never give up his passion--whether they are for the Main Street 
insurance agents, who have come to call him a close friend, or for his 
family, or for his music.
  Kent Olson is one of those people whom everyone respects, and with 
many good reasons. I have had the pleasure of calling Kent Olson a 
colleague and a friend, and that will never change.
  I am pleased to congratulate and commend Kent Olson on the occasion 
of his retirement as executive director of the Professional Insurance 
Agents of North Dakota.

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