[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF GEORGIE CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments 
and celebrate the tourism award being presented to a truly remarkable 
woman and dear friend, Georgiana Clark. Today, the National Tour 
Association at their annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia, is 
recognizing Mrs. Clark with the Pioneer Award for her lifetime 
dedication to the tourism industry in the United States. I have known 
Georgie and her late husband, Norman, since the early 1980s. They are 
the founders and operators of a family attraction in Santa Cruz County: 
Roaring Camp Railroads. The goal of the Clark Family was to freeze a 
period in time so visitors can step across the authentic wooden covered 
bridge and step back in time to the 1880's.
   Norman and Georgiana Clark realized their family owned tourist 
attraction would never be able to financially afford the worldwide 
marketing needed to make their attraction a success, but they believed 
in cooperative marketing. Georgiana and Norman were the founders of 
what is today Cal Travel but was founded as the California Travel 
Industry Association and were the founders of what today is known as US 
Travel but was founded as the Travel Industry Association of America.
   After Norman's passing in 1985, Georgiana went on to launch the 
company's second rail service, the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific 
Railway, the train from the California Redwoods to the beaches of Santa 
Cruz, Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I'm proud to say 
I was part of the original dedication ceremony when this tourist 
attraction began in Santa Cruz County. Today Roaring Camp is a thriving 
tourist attraction hosting many historical events and one of the 
largest Day Out With Thomas (Thomas the Tank Engine) events in the 
world.
   Georgiana Collins Clark was born in 1935 Honolulu, Hawaii. She 
learned the importance of tourism at a very young age. Georgie and her 
sisters would make leis and sell them to arriving visitors to Honolulu 
as they disembarked off of cruise ships. Remember--back then there was 
no commercial air services. Georgiana later became a stewardess for 
Aloha Airlines where she met her husband, Norman on a flight. After 
Norman and Georgiana were married they settled in to their new home on 
the property of Roaring Camp where together they raised their three 
daughters Chemene, Melani and Kapiolani. Today two of their daughters 
work in tourism; Melani is the CEO for Roaring Camp Railroads and 
Kapiolani is an Operations Director at the Disneyland Resort in 
Anaheim.
   Georgiana has played such a huge part in so many lives but 
especially to her family and friends. As the National Tour Association 
recognizing Georgiana P. Clark for her lifetime contribution to 
tourism, I am proud to say I have watched this family owned and 
operated attraction grow and flourish over the years.
   Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in celebrating 
Georgiana P. Clark's amazing spirit and offering our congratulations to 
her on her lifetime of dedication to the tourism industry.

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