[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1897-E1898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF A.J. ``JACK'' PFISTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2009

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary 
and inspirational life of A.J. ``Jack'' Pfister and to remember the 
many significant and lasting contributions he made to the state of 
Arizona and his local community.
  On July 20, Jack passed away of at the age of 75.
  An Arizona native born in Prescott, Jack was a strong force behind 
the growth and prosperity of the Phoenix Metropolitan area over the 
past four decades. During his 15 years as General Manager of the Salt 
River Project, Jack guided the utility in becoming one of the leading 
public power entities in the country. In addition to his contributions 
to building our fast-growing region's vital water and electric 
infrastructure, Jack was a respected and vocal leader of community 
boards, commissions and public service projects too numerous to list in 
its entirety.

[[Page E1898]]

  Most notably, Jack displayed a lifelong and unwavering commitment to 
make higher education more available and affordable to Arizonans. He 
served on the Arizona Board of Regents, and most recently as the Vice 
President for Institutional Advancement at Arizona State University. In 
addition, Jack taught at the ASU School of Public Affairs and served on 
the Board of Directors for the Center for the Future of Arizona. And, 
of course, Jack's brave leadership was absolutely vital to Arizona's 
creation of a holiday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in commemorating the life of Jack 
Pfister and remembering the strong and positive impact he left on his 
community and the many people who knew and loved him.

                          ____________________