[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6972]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 6972]]

        HONORING CHARLES M. MONROE ON OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2000

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Mr. Charles L. 
Monroe for his 38 years of dedicated service to the California 
Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Monroe is retiring this year from his 
distinguished 14-year career as the regional patrol chief for the 
Central Coast Region of the California Department of Fish and Game.
  Charles Monroe was born on January 12, 1939 in Montrose, CO. He moved 
to Southern California as a child in 1947, where he resided until 1956. 
He later attended Lassen and Stockton Colleges in Northern California, 
and graduated with an A.S. degree in criminal justice from College of 
the Redwoods in Humbolt County, CA.
  Charles Monroe's career with the Department of Fish and Game began 38 
years ago when he became a seasonal aid for the Department. His first 
job was working on the Honey Lake Refuge in 1958. Over the years he 
worked his way up within the department. From 1962 through 1964 Charles 
worked as a Fish and Wildlife assistant in Bishop, CA and at the inland 
fisheries hatchery at Mt. Whitney. In 1964, he became a fish and game 
warden, working the Marine Patrol in Eureka, CA and the land patrol in 
Williams, CA. He soon became the patrol captain of Hunter Education for 
the Central Coast Region in 1972. Later, in 1975, Charles became patrol 
captain of the Northern Squad of the Central Coast Region, a post he 
held for 11 years. In 1986, Charles Monroe was named as regional patrol 
chief for the Central Coast Region of California, a distinguished title 
which he held for 14 years, until his recent retirement on March 31, of 
this year.
  In addition to his career with the Department of Fish and Game, Mr. 
Monroe has dedicated himself to helping his community. He served for 3 
years with the U.S. Coast Guard reserve and assisted in the development 
of the first comprehensive pollution response plan for the 12th Coast 
Guard District. He also served as a police officer in Susanville and 
Needles, CA for 4 years. He also dedicated three summers to U.S. Forest 
Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
  Mr. Monroe's life has been one of great public service and 
participation. In 1973, he established the Fish and Wildlife Law 
Enforcement curriculum at Napa Valley College and has taught there ever 
since. He has regularly been an instructor at the California Department 
of Fish and Game Academy, as well. For the past 8 years he has served 
as chairman of the Napa County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee. 
From 1980 to 1995, Charles also served on the Napa County Chamber of 
Commerce Law and Fire Committee. He is known for his various committee 
work for Ducks Unlimited and the California Waterfowl Association, 
where he had numerous stints as chairman and co-chairman.
  Charles Monroe is a dedicated family man. He has been married to his 
wife Sonia for 39 years. Together they have three children: Michelle, 
Chuck and Shari, as well as five grandchildren.
  In his spare time, Mr. Monroe enjoys hunting, fly fishing, wildlife 
art, and the study of U.S. history.
  Perhaps the best example of Charles Monroe's dedication to his 
community came in 1965 when he was awarded the California State Medal 
of Honor for his rescue activities during the 1964 floods in Humbolt 
County, CA. Obviously, Mr. Monroe is a man of great courage as well as 
dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been my great honor to represent Mr. Charles L. 
Monroe, first as his State Senator and now as his Congressman. Clearly, 
his life has been one of great public service, dedication, and 
commitment. For these reasons, it is necessary that we honor this man 
for his great work for the wildlife, people and State of California.

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