[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 117 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING DONALD LARSON AS HE CELEBRATES HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Donald Larson as he 
celebrates his 80th birthday. His many years of dedication to education 
and service deserve both acknowledgement and appreciation.
  Don and his twin brother, Phil, were born on September 5, 1933, to 
Bengt John and Olive Emmingham Larson. He grew up in Kerman, 
California, and graduated from Kerman High School in 1951. After 
attending the College of the Sequoias, Don continued his education at 
the University of California, Berkeley. Immediately following 
graduation, Don began his teaching career in Caruthers, California. He 
taught sixth grade for two years, and then went on to teach at Kerman 
High School for two years. During his first few years of teaching, Don 
was also completing a Masters at California State University, Fresno. 
He taught six years for Fresno Unified and ended his teaching career 
after 35 years with Fresno City College.
  Staying active and involved in the community has always been very 
important to Don. He takes great pride in his lifelong membership at 
the First Covenant Church in Fresno where he has taught Sunday school 
for over six decades. Don has served at various organizations including 
Fresno County Housing Authority, Fresno Economic Opportunities 
Commission, and Fresno County Democratic Central Committee. He has also 
served on the State Center Community College Foundation and was the co-
chair of the Capital Campaign for the Old Administration Building on 
the Fresno City College campus. In addition to these impressive 
undertakings, Don also found time to be the scorekeeper at basketball 
games for Kerman and McLane High Schools, and Fresno City College. He 
also ran the football chain gang for over fifty years, and taught a 
current events class to high school seniors from 1965 to 2010.
  During Don's retirement he enjoyed spending time with his late wife 
Carol Kraft Larson. Carol passed away in 2004, but her kindness and 
love for teaching will always be remembered. They raised one daughter, 
Lynn, who has furthered the family's tradition by working as an 
elementary school teacher.
  Furthermore, Don has a tremendous interest in the World's Fair. His 
vast collection of World's Fair memorabilia is housed in the Special 
Collections Department of the Henry Madden Library at California State 
University, Fresno. The collection has been named in his honor and is 
considered second only to that of the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to recognize Donald Larson on his 80th 
birthday. He serves as a pillar in our community, and I thank him for 
all of his contributions to our education system.

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