[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 137 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING GEOFFREY ``CRAIG'' HUNT

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I ask my colleagues to join 
me in paying tribute to Geoffrey ``Craig'' Hunt, a 13-year veteran 
pilot with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 
CAL FIRE. Craig was an exceptional firefighting pilot, a loyal friend, 
and most of all a devoted family man who was tragically killed in the 
line of duty fighting the Dog Rock Fire near Yosemite National Park on 
October 7, 2014.
  Craig Hunt was born in Richmond, IN, and dedicated his life to 
serving his country, first as a U.S. Navy P-3 pilot from 1975 to 1984 
and then in the Naval Reserve for 20 years after leaving active duty. 
Craig was also an enthusiastic and accomplished scholar who received a 
master's degree in business from the University of Southern California. 
A lifelong interest in science and the natural world led him to also 
earn a master's degree in biochemistry from the University of 
California at Santa Cruz. His passion for learning led him to teaching. 
In the winter months, when the fire season was over, he worked at UC 
Santa Cruz as a course assistant teaching general chemistry and organic 
chemistry labs.
  Always at home in the cockpit of a plane, Craig loved his job as a 
pilot with CAL FIRE. For 13 years he valiantly answered the call to 
protect public safety and the environment by piloting aircraft during 
emergencies. He had a vast knowledge about wild land fires and was 
skilled in pinpointing aerial attacks in places that were difficult for 
ground crews to reach.
  Colleagues remember Craig as an experienced and respected pilot who 
loved his job. He was happy and outgoing, quick with a smile, and had a 
fantastic sense of humor. A friend and neighbor recalled that Craig 
would ``drop anything in a heartbeat if you needed help or 
assistance.''
  When he was not on duty, Craig was an avid outdoorsman with a passion 
for golfing, fly fishing, hiking, bird watching, and scuba diving. 
Standing beside him through it all was his beloved wife Sally, whom he 
met in college and married in 1975. Craig was also a devoted father to 
his two daughters, Sarah and Nancy. His daughter Sarah said about him, 
``My dad died a hero. There was not a day that went by that I didn't 
talk to my dad. He was my best friend.''
  Craig Hunt dedicated his life to his family, his community, and his 
country, and his courageous service will be forever remembered. On 
behalf of the people of California, whom he served so bravely, I extend 
my gratitude and deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and 
colleagues. He will be deeply missed.

                          ____________________