[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT K. REAVES, OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT AND 
                          CONSERVATION LEADER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the leadership and 
outstanding public service of a member of our federal workforce.
  After nearly 45 years of service, Robert K. Reaves will retire on 
January 3, 2001 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural 
Resources Conservation Service. In his role in public service, Bob set 
an example for everyone with a strong commitment to excellence, 
dedication to integrity, and an enthusiasm for conservation of natural 
resources.
  Mr. Reaves was born and raised in the Washington, DC area and spent 
time in his youth working on his Uncle's tobacco farm in North 
Carolina. He attended George Washington University and received a 
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
  In February of 1956 he began federal service with United States 
Geological Survey as a chemical technician in water quality. In May of 
1969, Bob joined the United States Department of Agriculture's Research 
Service, as a program analyst. He served the Department in several 
capacities related to the budget development.
  In 1981, Bob joined the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 
(NRCS). For nearly two decades, Bob provided top-level expertise on 
conservation issues, including serving as the Budget Officer for NRCS. 
In 1997-98, Mr. Reaves was a key advisor in the USDA Civil Rights 
review and helped develop budget initiatives to support Civil Rights 
initiatives and several other key areas of Department Administration.
  In his role with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mr. 
Reaves has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public awareness 
of conservation issues, and has served as a source of expertise on 
national issues for executive branch and legislative branch officials 
alike. He is also a leading advocate for conservation funding, and has 
appeared before committees of this Congress on several occasions to 
support private lands conservation. The individual accomplishments of 
Mr. Reaves are many, but his years of service are a testament to his 
dedication, integrity and commitment to his work.
  After 45 years of federal service, Bob will have a chance to share 
the fruits of retirement with his wife, Peggy and pursue hobbies 
including woodworking, and gardening. Although he will be missed by his 
colleagues at the Department and many friends here on Capitol Hill, we 
wish him the very best in his future pursuits. We thank him and salute 
him for a job well done and wish him well as he embarks upon new 
frontiers and endeavors that retirement will offer.

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