[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF DENNIS McBRIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2020

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dennis McBride 
as he leaves the Board of Education of the Redwood City Elementary 
School District after serving 17 years. This brief introduction of 
Dennis does not begin to do him justice.
  Let me offer you the image of the Energizer Bunny, unceasingly 
banging on a drum and looking a bit cool at the same time. This is 
Dennis. Let me also acknowledge that this might be the only time that 
comments in the Congressional Record refer to a Certified Public 
Accountant as ``cool.'' The word fits Dennis.
  He began his love affair with education as a parent volunteer with 
the cooperative preschools in which his two children were students. He 
then hopped to the nearby elementary school where he became active in 
the site council and organized field trips, such as when he took a 
class to visit a leading computer manufacturer. He served on the site 
councils of every school attended by his two children. While some 
parents coach soccer, Dennis coached other parents and teachers in how 
to solve problems, raise funds, helped teachers, and did so much more. 
That's a drum-banging, cool dad.
  As a CPA, Dennis volunteered his professional talents for numerous 
parcel tax and bond measures. The funds raised built classrooms 
throughout the elementary and high school districts and sustained the 
curriculum to the best degree possible despite economic circumstances. 
It is estimated that over 25,000 pre-K through eighth grade students, 
and additional high school and community college students, were 
benefitted by Dennis' work. In the buildings created, in the music 
programs sustained, in the special education students aided, and in 
dozens of other ways large and small, Dennis created a legacy that will 
last for at least two generations.
  Dennis has always been unassuming in his collaborative ventures with 
other school district trustees from around the county, but many 
eventually made their way to Dennis as they sought answers to tough 
financial and personnel issues. For years he's been a leader within the 
San Mateo County School Boards Association, going so far as to find new 
leaders for recognition through the association's annual Kent Award.
  How much energy does this man exude? Well, ask yourself, how many 
school district trustees visit nighttime staff to see how they are 
holding up? How many trustees show up in the morning at dangerous 
intersections to witness what parents are worried about? How many 
trustees visit every school in the district, check out cafeterias, 
write handwritten thank you notes to teachers, staff and parents? Many 
would show up at school events when invited, but how many are known on 
campuses where middle schoolers call out their names? This is Redwood 
City's public servant, Dennis McBride.
  Not content to contribute to his community solely through its 
schools, Dennis served as the treasurer or board member or both for 
multiple community organizations including the Police Activities 
League, the workforce housing committee of the school board, and on the 
board overseeing faculty/staff housing for the San Mateo County 
Community College District. He's also served on the education advisory 
committees of two members of the state legislature and as treasurer for 
the Sequoia Awards, a community scholarship program recognizing low 
income high school students with big college or technical education 
dreams.
  Dennis McBride's contributions don't end with education. From 2006 to 
2013, he served as treasurer for the Santa Clara University Law School 
Board of the Northern California Innocence Project and on the Board of 
Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula.
  In all those cartoonish ads for batteries, some of the other bunnies 
run out of juice but the Energizer Bunny keeps going. In contrast, I 
think even the Energizer Bunny would give up before Dennis McBride. It 
has been my privilege and honor to serve with Dennis. We are sorry to 
see him go, and so sad that his drum will not be beating for us again. 
We wish Dennis, his wife, Lori, and his sons Cory and Casey much 
happiness in the coming years.
  Madam Speaker, a one-man band has now retired from public life, but 
the beat goes on because everyone wants to make Dennis proud as they 
follow his lead, his laughter, and his kind heart.

                          ____________________