[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 20, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF DON L. RIDING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 20, 2011

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Don L. Riding, 
Fresno Field Office Director with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS). After 39 years of dedicated service, Don is retiring 
so he can spend more time with his family.
  Don began his career in 1972 with the federal agency we then called 
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). He was based in El Paso, 
Texas as an Immigration Inspector. In 1975, Don was transferred to the 
INS Baltimore, Maryland office as a Criminal Investigator, where he 
investigated immigration fraud. Don was promoted in 1980 to Course 
Developer/Instructor at the Immigration Officer Academy in Glynco, 
Georgia. He remained at the Academy for 2 more years before he became 
the Port Director at Laredo, Texas in 1982. In 1984, our community was 
lucky when Don was transferred to Fresno as Officer in Charge. He has 
remained in Fresno ever since and was promoted in September 2003 to 
Field Officer Director for the now U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS) in Fresno. Don has been doing a tremendous job in 
Fresno for almost three decades.
  Before the INS, Don spent two years in the U.S. Army and then two 
years on a church mission in Brazil. Don received his B.A. degree from 
Brigham Young University in 1972. I applaud Don Riding for his many 
years of tireless work on behalf of the United States government. I 
know he will enjoy more time with his wife, Donna, his five children 
and four grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that in addition to his countless 
gifts to our community, Don has been a true champion for my 
constituents. In my office the majority of our constituent casework is 
immigration issues. These are sensitive cases that can sometimes take a 
great deal of time to resolve. My Fresno staff has worked closely with 
Don Riding on immigration issues for twenty years and proudly 
recollects Don always being available to discuss cases and work 
together on issues of concern. I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
recognizing the commitment, dedication and success of Don Riding and 
wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors.

                          ____________________