[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING ARKANSAS' NATIVE SON--CRAIG BLAIR--ON HIS RETIREMENT 
                         FROM THE FOREST SECTOR

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                          HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2021

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
successful career and retirement of Arkansas' native son and ordained 
Minister, Craig Blair. Throughout his almost 40-year career, Mr. Blair 
has set himself apart as an example to his community and his peers in 
the forestry sector.
  Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the son of an Arkansas school 
principal and a school librarian, Craig pursued a career in forestry, 
graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Management from 
the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a Masters in Forestry 
Degree in Forest Business from Mississippi State University, where he 
was also the College of Forest Resources 2018 Alumni Fellow. Over his 
39-year career, Craig held a variety of positions in the forestry 
sector, culminating in his appointment as President and CEO at Resource 
Management Service (RMS)--a firm that manages timber assets in my 
district--and in the forest products sector. During his more than 10-
year tenure as the firm's leader, Craig oversaw a skilled and 
experienced team of forestry and investment professionals who built and 
managed portfolios of forest assets that were collectively valued at 
more than $4 billion and that included investments in the United 
States, Australia, Brazil, China, and New Zealand. Craig became 
Chairman of the RMS Board of Managers on October 1, 2021.
  Among his many accomplishments as President and CEO of RMS, Craig led 
the firm's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the 
forestry profession, developed the first open ended forest investment 
fund, and championed collaborative approaches to landscape and species 
conservation, helping to establish Conservation without Conflict. Craig 
has also been actively engaged in numerous forestry organizations, 
serving as Chair on the boards of the National Alliance of Forest 
Owners, the World Forestry Center, and the Sustainable Forestry 
Initiative, Inc., where he received the 2017 SFI President's Award.
  The husband of Rita Blair for more than 34 years and father of two 
sons--Braden and Paul--I take this time today to celebrate Craig Blair. 
I am proud to call him my forestry colleague and my friend. May we 
always look at his work ethic and his dedication to his family, the 
forestry sector, and his church as an example to emulate.

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