[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF COLONEL BOB DINGEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise before the House of 
Representatives to remember Colonel Bob Dingeman.
  If you are lucky enough to visit the San Diego, California 
neighborhood of Scripps Ranch, you are likely to find Colonel Bob 
Dingeman everywhere. Colonel Dingeman has been a member, and usually 
the chair, of virtually every community benefit organization in the 40 
year history of Scripps Ranch.
  His service to country and community began as an enlisted private and 
served at Hawaii's Schofield Barracks when it came under attack on 
December 7, 1941. Following the end of World War II, Colonel Dingeman 
attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, then served 
in the Philippines, Korea and Vietnam. He flew helicopters with the 
call sign ``Smiling Tiger,'' and retired as a highly decorated United 
States Army Colonel.
  Colonel Dingeman, and his wife Gaye, have been married for 65 years 
and moved to Scripps Ranch in 1976. They have two grown children and 
several grand and great grandchildren and they are proud of each and 
every one.
  Very seldom does an individual devote such an extended depth and 
breadth of commitment and expertise to a community. Colonel Dingeman 
devotes hours of tireless effort to creating and maintaining schools, 
clean parks and safe streets. He has been honored by Scripps Ranch with 
a namesake public school--an honor rarely given by any school district 
to someone still living.
  Colonel Dingeman has been a mentor to many community volunteers. With 
his sage ``do-able solutions'' advice, he has helped forged new 
community, business and political leaders who will eventually shape the 
quality of life for future generations in Scripps Ranch.
  Of all his civic accomplishments, Colonel Dingeman takes particular 
pride in the hundreds of immigrants he has prepared for United States 
citizenship. He believes that America is the greatest democracy on 
earth.
  Madam Speaker, Colonel Bob Dingeman has been Citizen of the Year in 
Scripps on multiple occasions and was the initial inductee into the 
Volunteer Hall of Fame. On the 40th Anniversary of Scripps Ranch, I 
would like the House of Representatives to join me and honor this 
outstanding man who is an example to all of us in San Diego on what we 
can do for our fellow man.

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