[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRATULATING DR. DUANE ESAREY ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2021

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Duane 
Esarey, who is retiring from the Dickson Mounds Illinois State Museum 
in Lewistown after many years of tireless service.
  Dr. Esarey has been committed to the disciplines of archaeology and 
anthropology throughout his life, especially in Central Illinois. He 
started his career in 1977, working in the field as an archaeologist in 
the Archaeological Research Labs at Western Illinois University. In 
1982, Dr. Esarey earned a promotion to Director of the Archaeological 
Field School of the University. The following year, he relocated to 
Lewistown and accepted a position as Collections Manager for the 
Dickson Mounds Illinois State Museum. Dr. Esarey served as Collections 
Manager until 1994, when he became Assistant Curator of Anthropology 
for the Museum. He worked in this capacity until 2004 when he left to 
complete his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and 
work as Assistant Director for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey 
in Champaign-Urbana. After 15 years, the Museum welcomed him back on 
March 10, 2019 as Director. Dr. Esarey's contributions have been 
significant and irreplaceable to the profile and growth of Dickson 
Mounds Illinois State Museum, and the fields of archaeology and 
anthropology in Central Illinois.
  It is because of dedicated, innovative, and insightful leaders such 
as Dr. Esarey that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th 
Congressional District. Madam Speaker, I would like to, again, formally 
recognize Dr. Duane Esarey and thank him for his service to the 
collective Central Illinois community.