[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING COACH KEVIN KIERNAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Correa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate the career of 
Mater Dei High School Coach Kevin Kiernan. After 17 years at Mater Dei 
coaching the girls basketball team, this will be his last season 
coaching the Monarchs.
  Coach Kiernan recently celebrated his 900th win after a decisive 
victory in the southern California regional playoffs. It was a 
bittersweet moment for the coach as he and his players reflected on the 
legacy that he is leaving behind. He wraps up his coaching career with 
12 CIF Southern Section titles, six State crowns, and two national 
championships. That is a record.
  Coach Kiernan is an Orange County native, and Mater Dei High School 
will keep him as athletic director.
  We wish him the best. I am glad he is staying around. Let's keep the 
good work going.


                   Honoring Richard ``Dick'' Higgins

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the heroic life and 
legacy of Richard ``Dick'' Higgins.
  Dick was a husband, longtime Orange County resident, and a national 
hero. He served in the Navy during World War II after surviving the 
horrific attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
  His service to our community continued after he left the Navy, 
visiting schools and doing interviews and making sure that history 
stayed alive with young people and others in Orange County.
  Dick lived to be 102 years old, and he is survived by two children, 
two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. In his words, he now 
goes to be with his beloved Winnie Ruth, his wife of 60 years.
  I thank Dick for his service to our country and thank him for his 
sacrifice.


          Honoring Orange County School Counselors of the Year

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor this year's Orange 
County School Counselors of the Year.
  I am so proud that two of these counselors are from my hometown. Mr. 
Gernux is from Santa Ana Unified School District, and Ms. Rodriguez is 
from Anaheim Union School District, both of whom represent the best in 
our local public schools.
  Like myself, Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Gernux were grown in our local 
hometowns. They are products of Orange County public schools, and now 
they are giving back to the public school system that gave them so 
much.
  Ms. Rodriguez, Mr. Gernux, and the rest of these fine educators will 
continue to shape the future leaders of tomorrow. All of us in Orange 
County and in Congress appreciate their commitment to our community, 
our youth, and our future.

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