[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 4 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E15-E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SALUTING BOB LAY: A TRUE LOCAL HERO AND PUBLIC SERVANT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 2012

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life and service of 
Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret) Bob Lay for his distinguished service to the 
U.S. Army and his nation. Colonel Lay honorably served his country for 
thirty-one years.
  After an Army career as a helicopter pilot in which Colonel Lay 
served three tours in Vietnam, he retired from the United States Army

[[Page E16]]

in August 1994. During his last assignment, while serving as the 
Commander of the United States Army Readiness Group, at Patrick Air 
Force Base, he also served as the Department of Defense Coordinating 
Officer responsible for coordination of all disaster response and 
recovery missions assigned to the Department of Defense in wildfires in 
Georgia and in Hurricane Andrew in south Florida. He also served as the 
manager of the Disaster Field Office in Albany, Georgia, during the 
floods of 1994.
  Bob served as the Director of Brevard County Emergency Management 
from April 1997 until his death on January 11, 2012. I applaud his 
commitment to our community, military and the future of our Armed 
Services.
  Former Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Lay to the Governor's 
Wildfire Response and Mitigation Review Committee following wildfires 
in 1998, and he represented the Central Florida Region as Emergency 
Management Co-Chair for Central Florida Regional Domestic Security Task 
Force since 1999. He served on the Regional Local Emergency Planning 
Committee and on the Joint Toxic Hazard Control Team representing the 
public surrounding Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral Air Force 
Station. He was instrumental in establishing unity of effort as a 
regionalization of resources within the Central Florida Regional 
Domestic Security Task Force area.
  Lay was recognized by the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association 
as the Emergency Management Professional of the Year for 2003 and 
received a Distinguished Service Award from the National Hurricane 
Conference in 2004 for outstanding leadership in response to hurricanes 
Charlie, Frances and Jeanne.
  Bob was the President of Ascension Lutheran Church's Congregational 
Council and served on the Board of Directors of the Community Services 
Council and the Eastern Florida Maritime Area Security Committee, as 
well as representing Emergency Management on FEMA's National Advisory 
Council.
  Bob is survived by his wife, Patti, two sons, a daughter and three 
grandchildren. This is a sudden and tragic loss for our community. Bob 
was a great guy, a true leader and someone who we all relied on to get 
us through the hurricanes, storms and other devastating events. He was 
calm in a crisis, cool under pressure and there was not a challenge Bob 
wasn't ready to face. Bob embodied the true meaning of public service.
  ``Bob has been an absolute rock for many, many years,'' said Brevard 
County Sheriff Jack Parker.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends that knew 
and loved him.
  I am honored to rise in support of Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret) Bob Lay's 
service to our nation, and I am proud of his commitment to the cause of 
liberty, freedom and public service.

                          ____________________