[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES E. KRUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2010

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, the United States is blessed in many 
ways, but the ingenuity, patriotism, and character of the people who 
make up the fabric of our country are the greatest of our strengths. 
The characteristics of our people--the values we learn from our 
fathers, mothers, grandparents, and siblings--help to define American 
leadership. Outstanding American leaders walk among us each day.
  One such American leader is the current president of the Missouri 
Farm Bureau Federation, Missouri National Guard Brigadier General 
(Retired) Charlie Kruse, who with his wife Pam have become dear friends 
of mine through the years. I learned this week that Charlie plans to 
retire from the Farm Bureau after serving as its president since 1992. 
While his retirement will be a loss to the Farm Bureau family and to 
those of us in Congress who work with him, I know that Charlie and Pam 
will continue serving the people of Missouri and the farmers and 
military personnel who call the Show-Me State home.
  Charlie is a native of Dexter, Missouri, located in the southeastern 
portion of the state. He is an Eagle Scout who earned that rank in 1959 
and then went on to graduate in 1963 from Dexter High School. Charlie 
and Pam continue to farm in Dexter.
  Charlie graduated in 1967 from Arkansas State University with a 
degree in agronomy and graduated in 1973 with a Masters of Science in 
Agronomy from Missouri University. As a distinguished graduate from 
Mizzou, I know Charlie must have been thrilled when in 1983, Missouri 
Governor Kit Bond appointed him to the University of Missouri Board of 
Curators.
  In 1985, Missouri Governor John Ashcroft honored Charlie by 
appointing him to his cabinet as Missouri Director of Agriculture. In 
1990, he became the only Missourian to serve on President George H. W. 
Bush's Council on Rural America and was appointed to the 
Intergovernmental Advisory Committee of U.S. Trade Representative Carla 
A. Hills.
  In 1991, Charlie became executive vice president of the North 
American Equipment Dealers Association but resigned that post in August 
1992 to seek the presidency of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. 
Charlie was elected president of the Missouri Farm Bureau that year.
  During his tenure as Missouri Farm Bureau president, Charlie has been 
a state and national leader in agricultural policy making and has well 
represented the interests of Show-Me State farmers during Congressional 
farm bill debates. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee 
of the U.S. Meat Export Federation; the Commission on 21st Century 
Production Agriculture; the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee 
for Trade in Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds; the Missouri State Government 
Review Commission; the Missouri Plant Biotechnology Advisory Committee; 
and President George W. Bush's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and 
Negotiations. Charlie has also served as chairman of the American Farm 
Bureau's Task Force on the U.S. Livestock Industry; chairman of the 
American Farm Bureau's Trade Advisory Committee; and a member of the 
board of directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation 
(FARMER MAC).
  Charlie's agricultural career has been paralleled by a career in 
military uniform. In 1967, Charlie enlisted in the Missouri Army 
National Guard as an infantryman. He worked his way through the ranks 
from Private to Brigadier General. As a general officer in the Missouri 
Army National Guard, Charlie served as Assistant Adjutant General of 
Missouri. Charlie retired from the Army in 1993 after 26 years of 
distinguished service. We owe him and his family a debt of gratitude 
for his military service.
  Because of his outstanding leadership, Charlie holds many awards and 
honors. But, despite these accolades, I expect Charlie's top honor is 
being a husband and a father.
  Madam Speaker, I wish Charlie, Pam, and their family all the best as 
they transition into a new chapter of life. I know my colleagues in the 
House will join me in expressing a debt of gratitude to them.

                          ____________________