[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 193 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO LES CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 28, 2017

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague 
Congressman David Valadao, to recognize and pay tribute to Les Clark on 
his retirement this month as Executive Vice President of the 
Independent Oil Producers' Agency (IOPA) after 37 years of dedicated 
service to the ``mom and pop'' oil producers in Kern County.
  Les began his career in the very heart of California's Central 
Valley. After graduating from Taft High, he played football for Taft 
College and later baseball at California State University, Fresno. 
Shortly after leaving for school in Fresno, Les found himself back in 
the Kern oil patch, where he was first introduced to the oil business 
that he would go on to leave an incredible impact upon. Les had taken 
drafting classes at Taft College and was subsequently recommended by 
the school when Belridge Oil Company, in need of draftsmen, offered him 
a position where he gained a wealth of technical knowledge and hands-on 
experience.
  With this experience and a well-established reputation as a down-to-
earth, no-nonsense communicator, Les became the Executive Vice 
President of IOPA. In this position, he worked not only to move IOPA 
members' crude oil to refineries across the state, or as he would say 
to the ``majors,'' but he also doggedly and passionately pursued their 
public policy interests at the Federal, state and local levels of 
government--in our state, that's no easy task. With a myriad of Federal 
regulations layered on top of byzantine state regulations that oil 
producers come up against daily, Les quickly became a regulatory expert 
learning complex issues and government procedures to advocate for his 
members.
  One just has to walk into Les' office and see the stacks of paper-
filled boxes and files piled on his desk--not to mention the giant 
model wooden oil derrick--to recognize his wealth of knowledge 
accumulated over a lifetime of dedicated service to the Kern oil patch. 
Sitting in those old wooden chairs across from his desk as we discussed 
the important issues facing Kern County's small oil producers, Les knew 
where every file was while answering his flip phone that rang nearly 
constantly to close a deal or put out a fire for one of his members.
  In addition to his work for IOPA, Les is an active member of the 
Bakersfield and Kern County communities. Whether it was serving as a 
Taft Union High School Trustee to being a president of the Kern County 
Fair or the Taft Chamber of Commerce to chairing the West Side Hospital 
Foundation to being a board member of the Fresno State Alumni 
Association or Cal State Bakersfield Foundation, in addition to the 
many state and local advisory boards he participated on, he always made 
sure to focus on his family.
  Les founded the Ponytail Softball League enabling the girls of Taft--
including his daughters--to learn and enjoy softball. He is also in the 
Little League Hall of Fame for his service in coaching Taft little 
league teams, something he did for more than 30 years. Les coached 
baseball for Taft College and was a football referee for over 20 years. 
Many people may not know, but Les played competitive fast-pitch 
softball and semi-pro baseball for the Kern County League.
  From my time working for former Congressman Bill Thomas, to when I 
served in the California State Assembly and now in the United States 
House of Representatives, I have always sought and appreciated Les' 
counsel, wisdom, and friendship. His larger-than-life personality and 
dry wit always made our conversations engaging and memorable. He always 
cut right to the crux of an issue and had a clear vision of where he 
wanted things to go. And, Les never shied away from telling me when he 
thought I was wrong or why some new Federal or state regulation was 
hurting his members, all the while leaning back in his chair, arms 
folded in front of his chest.
  As Les enters this new chapter of his life, I'm sure he's looking 
forward to spending more time with his family, including his wife of 52 
years, June, two daughters, Tessa and Kerrie, son ``Little Les,'' ten 
grandchildren, Arizona, Ayana, Cash, Darius, Easton, Keelan, Logun, 
Sierra, Tanisha, and Willow, and great granddaughter, Zaria.
  Les exemplifies how one can serve their community and become a living 
legend through that service--everyone in Bakersfield and the Taft 
community knows him and appreciates his passion and leadership for our 
region. We all wish him the best in his retirement.

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