[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S7025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         REMEMBERING ED MORLAN

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I would like to recognize and honor 
the life of Edwin Purl Morlan, a constituent in my home State of 
Colorado who passed away on November 15, 2016, at the age of 66. He 
lived in Bayfield and was a pillar of the community in southwest 
Colorado, where he worked for 27 years as the executive director of 
Region 9 Economic Development District, a nonprofit that provides 
support to local businesses and startups.
  At his retirement party only 8 weeks ago, Mr. Morlan's friends, 
family, coworkers, and fellow economic development officials and 
entrepreneurs shared stories of the effect he had all across southwest 
Colorado and the entire State. Mr. Morlan was a key part of rebuilding 
this rural region's long-struggling economy. Through his vision and 
hard work, Ed loaned start-up funds to many of today's iconic southwest 
Colorado businesses, such as Mercury Payment Systems, Steamworks 
Brewing Company, and Chinook Medical Gear. During his tenure, Region 9 
loaned over $22 million to business ventures. Under Mr. Morlan's 
leadership, Region 9 Economic Development District led the way to 
bringing Internet and transportation planning to southwest Colorado, 
and the district now maintains an indicator report that measures the 
economic health of 17 regional communities. Mr. Morlan's vision shaped 
all of these projects. His daughter Kinsee said it well in a recent 
article in the Durango Herald: ``He just wanted Southwest Colorado to 
keep up with the rest of the world in terms of economic development.''
  Mr. Morlan was also a veteran. Drafted into the U.S. Army at age 19, 
he served as a combat medic in one of the most dangerous areas in 
Vietnam, earning both a Silver Star for the many lives he saved and a 
Purple Heart for his own injuries. After returning from Vietnam, he 
attended Western State College in Gunnison, where he met his wife, 
Jackie.
  As a five-term member of the town board of Bayfield and a member of 
the local planning commission, Mr. Morlan was part of the inaugural 
class of Leadership La Plata and helped launch an entrepreneurial 
accelerator program called SCAPE. His commitment to the community won 
him the Durango Chamber of Commerce's Barbara Conrad Leadership Award, 
and Governor John Hickenlooper declared July 28th, 2016 to be ``Ed 
Morlan Day,'' in recognition of his service.
  Mr. Morlan was also known for being a restaurant owner, handyman, 
boat captain, little league coach, friend, mentor, and dedicated family 
man. At a celebration of life held in Mr. Morlan's honor in late 
November, over 300 friends, colleagues, and family gathered at the 
Bayfield High School Performing Arts Center to share stories of a man 
who was deeply committed to his job, his family, and his community, a 
man who was a good friend, companion, grandfather, and husband. He is 
survived by his wife, Jackie Morlan; his sister, Ann Taylor, and her 
family; his daughters Amber and Kinsee Morlan; his son-in-law Jeff 
Hammett; and his grandchildren Huxley and Harper Purl Hammett.
  I join with southwest Colorado in honoring Ed Morlan, and I send my 
deepest condolences to his family.

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