[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E501-E502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE PASSING OF SAM HAMILTON, 15TH DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. FISH AND 
                            WILDLIFE SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2010

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sam Hamilton, the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, who we lost on 
February 20, 2010. Sam's work was that of a champion--the guardians of 
our environment are the stewards of what we leave to our descendants 
and they deserve unending praise. I never knew or needed to ask if Sam 
was a Democrat, Republican, or Independent because he worked with 
everyone and was a biologist first. If I can try to sum up his 
character, I will have to quote the man himself when he said:

       My greatest challenge is to help bring conservationists, 
     hunters, anglers, landowners, state and federal agencies, and 
     business people together to help us conserve and enhance what 
     makes America great--our treasured wildlife resources.

  His work for conservation and collaboration was driven by sound 
science, and his affection for the environment was unrivaled. Sam 
Hamilton devoted his career and over 30 years of his life to service 
within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In fact, Sam's 
first involvement with the agency came when he was 15 years old as a 
member of the Youth Conservation Corps in Mississippi. Near Starkville, 
Mississippi, where he grew up, Sam learned the importance of managing a 
wildlife habitat while banding wood ducks and Canadian geese to build 
waterfowl pens.
  In 1991, Sam became the first Fish and Wildlife Service State 
Administrator in Austin, Texas. While there, Sam held strong in his 
commitment to protect the golden-cheeked warbler from further 
endangerment. Years later, Sam went on to work on the restoration of 
the coastal wetlands and wildlife habitats along the Gulf Coast after 
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Sam was nominated in June 2009

[[Page E502]]

by President Obama to be the 15th director of the Service. Three months 
later, as he was being sworn in, he reaffirmed his commitment to 
addressing the threat of climate change, habitat fragmentation, 
invasive species, limited water supplies, and the illicit trade of 
wildlife. Perhaps he put it best when he said, ``as wildlife goes, so 
goes the nation.''
  Sam Hamilton was loved by all conservationists. He leaves behind his 
wife, Becky; two sons, Sam, Jr. and Clay; and grandson Davis. I am 
proud to have known Sam D. Hamilton, and to be able to help carry on 
his vision here in Congress. I ask my colleagues to stand and join me 
in celebrating his achievements and remembering his legacy as a person 
who embodied the very best of the American spirit.

                          ____________________