[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CHELSEY JEAN HOOD RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2016

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the tragic 
passing of Chelsey Jean Hood Russell from Denver, Colorado. I've been 
fortunate to know Chelsey and her family for many years, and had a 
close relationship with her late father Don Hood, a Vietnam War hero 
who passed away in 2012. Chelsey Jean Hood Russell, 35, passed away on 
August 23, 2016, on Lake Powell in Utah. She was born on February 24, 
1981, in Denver, Colorado to Trisha and Donald Hood. She was soon 
joined by her younger brother, Cayman, who was her best friend and 
confidant for life. Chelsey earned both her B.S.B.A. and her law degree 
from the University of Denver.
  Chelsey was an associate attorney at the law firm Welborn Sullivan 
Meck & Tooley, specializing in mineral title examination and oil and 
gas regulatory matters. Chelsey was an outstanding legal talent gifted 
with a creative mind, was instrumental in building the firm's highly 
successful oil and gas regulatory practice, and possessed an 
exceptional ability to make her clients feel respected and appreciated. 
She was recently elected Secretary of the Colorado Bar Association's 
Natural Resources and Energy Law Executive Council and spoke regularly 
on oil and gas regulatory matters.
  Those who knew her best characterized Chelsey by her extraordinary 
strength of both willpower and athleticism. She gave birth to her 
daughter just three days before taking--and acing--the Colorado bar 
exam. Her lifelong goal was to run a marathon in every state, and she 
recently achieved her personal record in the Revel Run marathon in 
Morrison, Colorado. Last summer, she ran both the Leadville 50 and the 
Leadville 100, running 50 and then 100 miles (for good measure) from 
elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. In addition to a lifelong love of 
running, Chelsey passionately pursued climbing, cycling, and swimming, 
and was an avid backpacker and camper.
  Even more notable than Chelsey's athletic achievements was her 
compassionate heart. Chelsey was dedicated to her many friendships and 
always thought of others before herself. She gave back through numerous 
charitable causes, and in particular supported the Leukemia and 
Lymphoma Society. Chelsey attended Mile Hi Church and had a deep and 
abiding spiritual practice that carried her through many difficult 
times.
  In spite of her countless achievements and staggering moral strength, 
Chelsey was truly defined by a singular role: she was the most loving 
mother in the world to her two children, Hayden Elaine, 5, and Harvey 
Donald, 2. Leading by example, she instilled in her children a love for 
outdoor adventures; a commitment to hard work; the importance of family 
and friendship above all else; and a strong sense of passion, 
fearlessness, and love of life. Chelsey's life was cut tragically short 
when she displayed the ultimate act of motherly love: at the end of a 
wonderful family vacation on Lake Powell she suffered an acute cardiac 
event while helping her young son, who had fallen in the water. She 
will always be remembered as a true hero.
  Chelsey is survived by her mother, Trisha; her brother, Cayman; her 
children, Hayden and Harvey; her niece, Zoii; and countless friends who 
loved her dearly.
  It is a true honor to have the opportunity to memorialize Chelsey 
Jean Hood Russell on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives 
today. She lived fully and died courageously, and it is my hope that we 
can all learn from the beautiful example she set in her 35 years of 
life.

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