[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 92 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF MR. DANIEL EDWARD WEBB

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2011

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, 
to pay tribute and honor the life of Daniel Edward Webb, who passed 
away at the age of 49, on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Dan and I had known 
each other for several decades and I greatly cherished our friendship. 
We say good bye to Dan as a brother, uncle, friend, avid forester and 
dedicated public servant.
  Born in Mariposa, California, July 3, 1961, Dan was the fifth of 
eight children. He spent several summers in the Sierra Nevada in the 
Youth Conservation Corps which sparked a lifelong admiration for the 
outdoors. His affinity for the mountains seemed to have been born with 
him, and his passion never wavered, no matter how removed his 
environment. Dan went on to graduate from Kingsburg High School, and 
attended Reedley College, where he was both active in the Forestry 
Program and served as student body president. He subsequently earned a 
Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Cal Poly San Luis 
Obispo. During this time, he continued to spend his summers in the 
mountains and eventually went to work for the United States Forest 
Service as a Park Ranger. Dan had many stories to tell about his time 
in the Forest Service, and I was fortunate to hear a great deal of 
them, including the time when he helped Jane Fonda find her way while 
on a hike in Kings Canyon National Park.
  Dan also had strong political interests that were harmonious with his 
dedication to public service and the environment. At one point, he 
worked for Congressman Richard Lehman, serving the San Joaquin Valley 
in the areas of agriculture, water, and public safety. Afterwards, he 
came to work for me as my District Director, and then joined me in the 
California State Senate as a policy advisor to the Senate Agriculture 
and Water Committee. Following his time with me in the State Senate, 
Governor Gray Davis appointed Dan as his deputy secretary to the 
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Having successfully 
completed many years of public service, Dan used his knowledge and 
political skills to launch a successful consulting career, specializing 
in biotechnology and agricultural science.
  Dan will best be remembered by those who knew him for his wit, humor, 
love of people, and his simple generosity. He gave of himself freely, 
whether it was in offering food to the homeless or helping a friend 
repair a water pipe, and for that selflessness, we honor him.
  Dan was preceded in death by his mother Agnes, his father George Sr., 
and infant brother Andy. He is survived by siblings George Webb Jr. of 
Granite City, Illinois, Sheila Yokota of Kingsburg, Lisa Inouye of 
Kingsburg, Mark Webb of Leander, Texas, Colleen Webb of Ventura, and 
Byron Webb of Merced.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great humility, honor and respect that Mr. 
Cardoza and I ask our colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay 
tribute to the life of Daniel Webb: a dedicated public servant, a 
forester, a brother, a friend--a great American.

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