[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CARL CHALFANT

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, I want to recognize a 
lifelong Kansan who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to 
volunteering in his community. Carl Chalfant has led, served, and 
provided for his community and family as a dad, grandfather, first 
responder, and city administrator. Carl was born on a dairy farm near 
Lancaster and attended Cloud County Community College where he met his 
wife of 48 years, Vickie. Together, they have two daughters and five 
grandchildren.
  Lots of boys and young men dream of having the heroic job of a police 
officer, firefighter, or paramedic when they grow up. Carl didn't just 
settle for one of those jobs; he did all three. It is important to note 
that in rural states like Kansas, many communities don't have the 
resources to staff and maintain full-time first responders. Instead, 
most rural communities will purchase equipment, like a fire truck or 
ambulance, and members of the community will volunteer to be trained as 
first responders and serve as an on-call, volunteer EMT or firefighter. 
This is how neighbors look out for each in rural communities and how 
Carl came to be a hero for many of his neighbors and friends.
  I want to share a brief history of Carl's service as a first 
responder, mostly in volunteer capacities.
  EMT--starting in 1986, Carl served as an EMT in Marshall County, 
Jefferson County, and recently retired from being an EMT in Washington 
County.
  Firefighter--Carl started volunteering for the local fire department 
in 1976. He served as the assistant chief in Marshall County until 
1990, at which time he moved and served as the volunteer fire chief in 
McLouth. He retired from firefighting in 2013.
  Police--Carl worked as part-time police officer for Marshall and 
Jefferson Counties for a little more than 10 years.
  His daughter recalls how his many volunteer activities earned him the 
title of a ``weekend warrior.'' And these were just Carl's volunteer or 
part-time jobs. Carl has worked in a number of positions for 
communities across Kansas and is currently the city administrator for 
Washington, KS.
  For many folks across Kansas, Carl has been the one to shop when 
things were scary or dangerous. He has saved countless lives through 
his service to the community. Serving others is a way of life for Carl 
and a character trait he has passed on to his two daughters and five 
grandchildren. Whether helping students at 4H events, girl scouts, or 
the local theatre, you can often find Carl and his whole family 
pitching in to help out.
  After decades of service, Carl has retired from being an EMT, but 
nevertheless is still an active member of the community. He sits on the 
Kansas Rural Water Association as a board member and is an active 
member of the Masons. Carl's decades of service, commitment, and 
leadership have impacted hundreds of lives. He is an inspiration to 
others, a hero to his family, and brings a smile out of everyone he 
meets.
  Thank you, Carl, for your contributions to your community and the 
State of Kansas. I hope you enjoy retirement and spending more time 
with your loved ones.

                          ____________________