[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING RANDY BURGESS FOR 33 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE 
                          U.S. FOREST SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2011

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Randy Burgess who 
recently retired from the Pisgah National Forest with 33 years of 
outstanding service to the U.S. Forest Service.
  Mr. Burgess began his work in forests during summers while in college 
at Eldorado and Stanislaus National Forests in California. After he 
graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in wildlife and 
forest management, he worked as a ranger at several national forests 
such as those in Sumter, South Carolina, and Rio Grande, Colorado. He 
began work at the Pisgah National Forest in 2003.
  During his 8 year tenure as head of the Pisgah District Operations, 
Mr. Burgess was instrumental in the upkeep and renovations in and 
around the forest. Mr. Burgess helped improve water quality through 
stream stabilization projects, supported various volunteer 
corporations, implemented upgrades at the Cradle of Forestry, provided 
public restrooms in the forest, and built a connector trail from the 
city of Brevard to the Pisgah National Forest. The 5.5-mile-long 
Estatoe Trail opened to the public on October 15, 2010, and has been a 
tremendous benefit to the citizens of that area. Mr. Burgess also 
served as a Forest Service Liaison to my office, lending his expertise 
in conservation to positively impact national policy. Mr. Burgess' 
leadership over the last few years has left a great mark on the Pisgah 
National Forest and provided positive influence on Congressional 
policy.
  Mr. Burgess has shown extraordinary dedication to our community and 
has had an indelible impact on the Pisgah National Forest. The service 
that Mr. Burgess has contributed to Western North Carolina and the U.S. 
Forest Service is truly inspiring and I am proud to represent him. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the exceptional career and 
service of Mr. Randy Burgess.

                          ____________________