[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E50]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        REMEMBERING RALPH FRESE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2013

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, last month the city of Chicago lost a 
legendary canoe-maker and conservationist. Ralph Frese, known as ``Mr. 
Canoe,'' got his first boat when he was just 14, and spent the next 50 
years championing the conservation of Chicago-region rivers.
  Starting in the 1960s, Ralph was active with the Clean Streams 
Committee, reporting waterway conditions, pollution and blockages to 
government agencies. In recognition of his efforts, he was inducted 
into the National Rivers Hall of Fame, and in 2007 a stretch of the 
Chicago River was renamed ``The Ralph Frese River Trail.''
  Ralph is responsible for introducing thousands of people to the 
pleasures of paddling a canoe across Illinois' waterways and loved 
nothing more than sharing his knowledge with other would-be 
conservationists.
  I once had the pleasure of canoeing down the Chicago River with Ralph 
and learned so much during our time together. More than anything, I 
left fully inspired by his love for the natural world around us, even 
in big cities like Chicago.
  We will miss Ralph cracking jokes or sharing his stories on the river 
trail. But his environmental legacy will live on for generations, and 
for that we should be forever thankful.

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