[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 82 (Friday, May 18, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO MAYOR OF AURORA, COLORADO, STEPHEN D. HOGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 18, 2018

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a 
truly great citizen of the United States, the Mayor of Aurora, 
Colorado, Stephen D. Hogan. Mayor Hogan passed away on May 13, 2018. 
Throughout his nearly eight year tenure as the mayor of my hometown, 
Steve Hogan oversaw a remarkable and exciting renaissance in the city. 
Aurora has become Colorado's third largest city, and a driving force of 
innovation, development, and economic opportunity. Aurora has also 
become an even greater place to live, work, and raise a family.
  I first met Steve Hogan 35 years ago when I returned home to Aurora 
after serving in the Marines. I have had the distinct pleasure to call 
him a friend ever since. Mayor Hogan's career in public service has 
taken him from serving in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 
1970's, to serving six terms as an Aurora City Council Member, and 
finally to two terms elected as the Mayor of the city I know he loved 
so dearly.
  Throughout his time serving the citizens of Aurora, Mayor Hogan 
managed its remarkable growth. Although thought of by many as simply a 
suburb of the city of Denver, Aurora is so much more. In fact, Aurora 
is now the 54th largest city in the United States. During Mayor Hogan's 
tenure, Aurora saw the expansion of the E-470 highway, the continued 
buildout of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the 
final stages of the construction of the Gaylord Rockies Resort and 
Convention Center, and the openings of an Amazon Fulfillment Center and 
a Walmart Distribution Center. In addition, he worked closely with the 
Regional Transport District on the innovative public private 
partnership that resulted in the completion of the R-Line light rail 
that runs throughout the city years ahead of schedule. These new 
developments have contributed millions of dollars to Aurora's economy, 
creating new jobs and exciting economic opportunities. Buckley Air 
Force Base, the largest employer in the City of Aurora, also flourished 
under Mayor Hogan's leadership. While other military installations have 
troubled relationships with their local communities, Mayor Hogan was an 
avid supporter of the base and a supporter of efforts now nearing 
completion to add over 1,000 acres of open space around the base that 
will protect it from encroachment. In April, as a mark of its respect 
of the Mayor, Aurora City Council voted unanimously to rename the 6th 
Avenue Parkway Extension as the Stephen D. Hogan Parkway.
  Mayor Hogan exemplified the spirit of public service, and my hometown 
of Aurora would not be the wonderful place that it is without his 
vision and his leadership. We are all better off because of his decades 
of hard work. My heartfelt thanks to Mayor Hogan and I salute him for 
his service to our fellow citizens. I am proud to have been able to 
call him a friend and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

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