[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7759-S7760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF RANDY ATKINSON

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I rise today to first 
recognize the life of a very unique and remarkable Coloradan, and then 
I will speak to a cause that is near and dear to me, as it is I think 
to the Presiding Officer as well, and that is our wind energy industry 
and the threat it faces.
  I wish to speak about a man by the name of Randy Atkinson whom we 
lost this year on October 9, 2012, at the way-too-young age of 60. He 
was a firefighter. He dedicated himself to serving his community and, 
as he put it, brothers and sisters in Colorado's fire departments.
  Randy was an example to all of us because he dedicated his entire 
adult life to helping others. He started at the age of 19, in 1972, by 
joining the Denver Fire Department and Denver Firefighters Local 858. 
Not long after that, he took a more active role in representing his 
fellow firefighters as an advocate and a legislative consultant for the 
Colorado Professional Firefighters and Denver Local 858. He was held in 
high esteem not just by his fellow firefighters but by Colorado 
legislators on both sides of the aisle. Why was that? He was 
intelligent. He was caring. He had a great sense of humor. We all 
appreciated that when we came into contact with him, whether we were 
Democrats or Republicans.
  He was a leader and because of that he kept rising through the ranks. 
In 1995, he was elected president of the Colorado Professional 
Firefighters. In 2007, he was elected as vice president for the 
International Association of Firefighters in the 9th District. When he 
died, he was serving in both of those positions.
  I know the Presiding Officer has a phenomenal crew of firefighters in 
her home State. We know what they did on 9/11 and what they do every 
day. Randy was a man who served in that spirit. While he represented 
firefighters, he always was fighting for fair pay and making sure those 
who stand up for us in times of hazard and emergency have the best 
possible safety equipment to carry out their dangerous and often unsung 
responsibilities. While at times Randy had to be pretty hard-nosed when 
it came to negotiating and standing up for firefighters, he always had 
a positive relationship with policymakers, even when he was tangling 
with them. I have to say I am glad we agreed more often than we 
disagreed.
  Randy Atkinson was truly an admired figure. As I think about him, I 
wish we had more people such as Randy right here in Washington, DC. We 
would certainly get more done and we would have stronger relationships 
with one another.
  Late this fall more than 500 of us gathered to celebrate his life, 
including family members, friends, and work associates. We laughed and 
we cried and showed our appreciation for his life and service. I was 
honored that day to be a part of that celebration.
  I want to extend my sincerest condolences to his family, including 
his son Randy, Jr., and his two daughters, Brenda and Denisa. We all 
loved him, as I have said. I hope the viewers all understand how much I 
admired him, how hard he worked, and how grateful we are to have known 
him. I am honored to be able to stand here on the floor of the Senate, 
remembering Randy smiling, to recognize his life and his 
accomplishments and, above all, his

[[Page S7760]]

enduring spirit and his strong character. I think we have to keep his 
spirit alive in our attitudes and in our actions.
  I thank the Chair for her interest in another firefighter.

                          ____________________