[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. BOB NICKELSEN

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60 years of 
outstanding public and volunteer service of my fellow Oregonian and 
friend, Mr. Bob Nickelsen. I would like to celebrate and pay tribute to 
Bob's loyal service to my hometown of Hood River, Oregon and to pay 
tribute to a man who embodies the selfless spirit of service to others.
  In 1951, Bob first joined the West Side Fire Department as a 
volunteer firefighter. In 1961, Bob was appointed fire chief of the 
department, a position that he held until 1980. During his tenure as 
fire chief, the West Side Fire Department expanded its services by 
erecting a second firehouse, which now bears his name. Under Bob's 
guidance, the fire department also began dispatching first responder 
personnel to aid emergency medical calls with the Hood River Ambulance 
Service.
  For the past 30 years, he has also served as an elected member of the 
West Side Fire District Board of Directors. To this day, Bob continues 
to put himself in harm's way as a volunteer fire fighter. His 
leadership allowed this small rural volunteer fire district to stay in 
step with current developments in the fire sciences and provide the 
professional level of support that the community so richly deserves.
  Mr. Speaker, Bob Nickelsen's civic responsibilities do not end at the 
firehouse doors. He was a commissioner for the Port of Hood River for 
over 15 years and has served on numerous local agricultural boards and 
committees. He was previously recognized as the Hood River Valley's 
``Orchardist of the Year.'' As a leader within the local farming 
community, Bob has contributed much of his time and effort to the 
economic development of Hood River and the Columbia Gorge.
  On December 10, the West Side Fire Department will once again honor 
Bob with a banquet on his behalf I invite my colleagues to join me in 
praising Bob Nickelsen for 60 remarkable years of dedicated public 
service, his numerous contributions to his community, and for his 
outstanding character as a citizen of Hood River.
  Theodore Roosevelt once said that ``the first requisite for a good 
citizen is that he should be willing and able to pull his own weight.'' 
Bob continues to far surpass this noble standard.

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