[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR KENNETH QUINN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2013

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ambassador 
Kenneth Quinn for receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the 
American Farm Bureau Federation.
  The Distinguished Service Award is the American Farm Bureau 
Federation's highest honor and is reserved for individuals who have 
dedicated their careers to the advancement of agriculture. The 
president of Iowa Farm Bureau, Craig Hill, nominated Ambassador Quinn 
to receive this esteemed national award.
  Dr. Kenneth Quinn's career and achievements are truly ones for the 
history book. A native Iowan, Kenneth grew up in Dubuque where he 
obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Loras College. Ambassador Quinn's 
wide-ranging diplomatic career led to his ascension as one of the 
federal government's most decorated Foreign Service officers, a top 
U.S. expert on Indochina, President Ford's Vietnamese interpreter, and 
ultimately as United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from 
1996-1999. Dr. Quinn is regarded as the first person to report on the 
1974 Cambodian genocide and is the only civilian to receive an Army Air 
Medal in Vietnam combat operations. Ambassador Quinn is also among the 
prestigious recipients of the Secretary of State's Award for Heroism 
and is the only Foreign Service office to receive the American Foreign 
Service Association Rivkin and Herter Awards for intellectual courage 
on three occasions.
  Following his 32 year career in the Foreign Service, Dr. Quinn began 
his role as President of the World Food Prize Foundation in 2000. Since 
assuming this leadership role, Kenneth has overseen tens of millions of 
dollars in fundraising and the successful distribution of the annual 
Nobel Prize Food and Agriculture award. His contribution to the legacy 
of Dr. Norman Borlaug and the World Food Prize Foundation has been 
nothing short of remarkable.
  Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better recipient for Farm Bureau's 
Distinguished Service Award than Ambassador Quinn. The dedication Dr. 
Quinn has displayed to his state and country throughout his career 
continues to change our world for the better. Ambassador Quinn's 
efforts embody the Iowa sprit and I am honored to represent him in the 
United States Congress. I know that all of my colleagues in the House 
will join me in congratulating him for this achievement, thanking him 
for his service, and wishing him continued success in the future.

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