[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 195 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. CLYDE LARSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD M. NOLAN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2018

  Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to note the passing of my constituent 
in Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, Mr. Clyde Larson, of 
Hermantown. Mr. Larson was a pillar of the railroad labor community in 
Duluth, the Arrowhead, and throughout our state.
   Across Northern Minnesota, we are all so very proud of the men and 
women who operate the BNSF, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific and 
short-line railways. The railroad workers of America--epitomized by 
Clyde Larson and so many thousands of others like him--help form the 
foundation of our Nation's economy. Whether they are moving passengers, 
iron ore and steel, grain, chemicals, forest product or intermodal 
goods, railroad train crews work around the clock under all weather 
conditions. They are silent sentinels protecting the public while 
serving industries and operating their trains across the land.
  Clyde was 62 years of age when he passed unexpectedly. Born to Dexter 
and Wanda Larson, master bakers and small business owners from Fridley, 
Minnesota, the Larson family later moved to Hermantown, where Clyde 
graduated from high school in 1972 and met his bride, Anne Tessier, in 
1977.
  After high school and vocational training, Clyde went to work for 
Burlington Northern Railroad (BN), and then the mighty Duluth Masabi 
and Iron Range Railway (DM&IR) where he worked as a conductor until 
being severely injured in the early 1990's. During his railroad career, 
Clyde was elected Local Chairman for the United Transportation Union 
and rose by democratic election to the position of UTU General Chairman 
for the DM&IR.
   General Chairman Larson helped countless railroad workers and 
protected one of the most valuable and lucrative steel-road contracts 
in the United States. Brother Larson presided over the DM&IR's Carnage 
pension contributions to steel-road workers, in addition to ensuring 
each member's rights under the United States Railroad Retirement 
pension and disability system. Thanks to his work ethic and devotion to 
his UTU members, thousands of active and retired railroad workers 
across northern Minnesota have lived independent lives, supported our 
Main Street economies, and helped to make Minnesota a better place in 
which to live, work, and do business.
   Upon the CN Railway's takeover of the DM&IR in 2009, Clyde went to 
work for the UTU Designated Legal Counsel firm of Hunegs, LeNeave, and 
Kvas, where he served and protected all railroad craft workers. Clyde 
worked as an expert investigator, consultant, and advocate for railroad 
families when they were most vulnerable. Through his work to improve 
safety in the railroad work place, Clyde, along with his Union Brothers 
and Sisters, have made America's railroads a safer place to in which to 
work and prosper.
   In true Minnesota tradition, Clyde honored justice, common decency, 
and maintained civility at all times. With a dry wit and cutting sense 
of humor, Clyde championed fair treatment for workers and railroad 
families. He was tremendously generous with his own time and resources 
to help all of those with less. Having known Clyde Larson as a husband, 
father, grandfather, brother, friend, mentor, and member of the St. 
Lawrence Church of Duluth, Moose Lodge, United Transportation Union, 
and Railroad Retiree's Association, the greater Duluth and Arrowhead 
community moves forward as richer Americans.
   Clyde Larson is survived by his loving wife Anne, sons Scott, Eric, 
and Corey, with their wives Jen, Lindsey and Jean, his grandchildren 
Dexter and Gustafson, parents Dexter and Joanne Larson, and siblings 
Joel, Mikkel, Karen, and Kathy, along with their spouses and extended 
families.

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