[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 87 (Thursday, June 5, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3466-S3467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO GORDON STEWART

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, I wish to honor Gordon Stewart, 
who is retiring from serving as the air traffic manager at Boise 
Airport.
  Gordon channeled his early exposure to aviation, through family 
members who owned airplanes, into a distinguished career. Gordon got 
his start in aviation through his military service. He served for 3 
years in the U.S. Army, through which he received his air traffic 
control training. He was a distinguished graduate at Fort Rucker, AL, 
in both basic and advanced individual training. He then went on to work 
at various helicopter training airports,

[[Page S3467]]

serve in Vietnam, and receive valuable experience working with a wide 
variety of aircraft at the joint use airfield at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
  He utilized the experience and training obtained through his military 
service in his numerous Federal Aviation Administration assignments 
that built up his deep knowledge of air traffic control. After 
returning to his family farm in Montana and serving as acting manager 
at the Flight Service Station in Cut Bank, MT, he spent 3 years at 
Missoula International Airport, where he learned about nonradar 
approach. He went on to work for more than a year at Billings Logan 
International Airport and then at the Salt Lake City Terminal Radar 
Approach Control, TRACON, before returning to the Missoula 
International Airport, where he served as acting air traffic manager 
before obtaining a position at Boise Airport.
  Gordon worked as a supervisor for 12 years at Boise Airport before 
becoming the air traffic manager for the past nearly 12 years. His 
leadership during his time there has been instrumental in making the 
airport successful. The numerous recognitions he received for his 
outstanding work include multiple facility of the year awards and a 
Fire Fighting Award for support of fire fighting in the Northwest 
Mountain Region.
  Gordon's effort to remain true to his core values and manage the same 
way he has parented--fair but firm--has been exemplary. Integrity has 
been a central element of Gordon's work. He can always be counted on to 
do what is right. His principled approach to working through 
considerable challenges has been indispensible. This especially 
includes his work on the development of the new Boise Air Traffic 
Control Tower and the effort to locate the TRACON.
  Thank you, Gordon, for your outstanding and dedicated service. As you 
retire, you deserve to reflect on your extraordinary career with pride 
in a job well done. I hope that retirement affords you more time with 
your friends and family, including your six children. I congratulate 
you on your retirement and wish you all the best.

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