[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1421-S1422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL D. ROACH

  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate and honor the 
retirement of one of my senior staff members and friend who has served 
in my home State of Idaho for the last 12 years as the State director 
of natural resources, Michael ``Mike'' D. Roach.
  After retiring from the banking industry, Mike came to my staff after 
my first election to the U.S. Senate in 2009 as the regional director 
of my Lewiston office. However, with a bachelor's degree in wildlife-
fisheries resources from the University of Idaho, I knew he was a 
perfect fit for the State director of natural resources position 
stationed in my Boise office. Shortly after starting in Lewiston, Mike 
helped to find his replacement in north Idaho and moved to southwestern 
Idaho to lead my State offices in natural resources.
  Mike was born in Twin Falls and grew up in southwestern Idaho where 
his father worked in the cattle and banking industry. This afforded him 
the opportunity to work and associate with the cattle and sheep 
industry in Idaho and develop a deep understanding of the history, 
traditions, and issues of Idaho. While in college at the U of I, he 
worked for Idaho Fish and Game and served as a Wildlife and Range 
Sciences Guidance Council member for the U of I's College of Forestry. 
He was also appointed to the district advisory council for the Bureau 
of Land Management--Boise District by former Secretary of the Interior 
Manuel Lujan. With his deep roots in Idaho, he was the perfect 
ambassador to the diverse natural resource and conservation groups of 
the State like the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho Farm Bureau, Trout 
Unlimited, and the Nature Conservancy.
  During his 12 years of service as my natural resources director, he 
advised and guided my office through many complicated issues like the 
sage grouse recovery plan, Idaho Roadless Rule implementation, salmon 
and steelhead management plans, Columbia River Treaty, Good Neighbor 
Authority, and many other resource issues. Due to his experience and 
knowledge, in 2015, the University of Idaho College of Natural 
Resources awarded Mike Roach the Alumni Award, recognizing his career 
achievements in natural resources.
  Another significant milestone came to pass while serving on staff; he 
became engaged and married to Cally Grindstaff in 2019. They now make 
their home in Fairfield, ID.
  It is always difficult to lose a trusted staff member of Mike's 
caliber, but I want to wish him and Cally nothing but best wishes in 
their future endeavors and look forward to our continued friendship in 
the years ahead.
  Congratulations and thank you for your outstanding service to my 
staff and the citizens of Idaho.

[[Page S1422]]

  

                          ____________________