[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO ANDY COMBS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, I rise today to 
publicly thank a member of my Washington, D.C. staff for his tireless 
efforts on behalf of the good people of Oregon's Second Congressional 
District. Andy Combs recently departed my staff to pursue a law degree 
at the University of Oregon. I wish him well in this new endeavor and 
know that he will excel both in law school and as a lawyer.
  Andy comes from Dora, a small town on the southern Oregon coast. He 
graduated from my alma mater, the University of Oregon, and after 
serving admirably as a staff member in the Oregon Legislature he 
embarked to Washington, D.C. to join my staff. He brought those 
desirable ``small town values'' to the nation's capital and to how he 
treated the people who sought assistance from my office.
  Andy was more than just ``the guy at the front desk.'' He helped 
families get the inside track to the sights and sounds of Washington, 
D.C. Time and again, he brought history alive as he led tours of the 
Capitol for people who had come nearly 3,000 miles so that their 
children could better understand the federal government and our bold 
history. Andy arranged their tours, took their calls, answered their 
questions. In short, Mr. Speaker, Andy made their day and their trip.
  I can't think of a time during his service in my office that a 
visitor went away disappointed. He attended faithfully to every detail 
and literally went the extra mile to make sure families could see the 
White House, the Capitol and other sights in the area.
  Moreover, Andy made Oregonians feel at ease and at home when they 
walked in the door. He possesses that warm and helpful attitude that is 
too often lacking in a big city. I have a significant stack of letters 
from Oregonians that took the time to write after their trip to 
Washington, D.C. to thank me for Andy's treatment of them and his 
dogged determination to make sure their experience was memorable, Andy 
was also instrumental in recognizing when something needed to be done, 
taking the initiative to complete myriad projects and lend others a 
helping hand.
  His ability and intellect will serve him well as a member of the bar. 
And his likeable attitude will serve him well in the courtroom. In 
short, Mr. Speaker, Andy's a difficult person to replace. Andy, thanks 
for a job well done and good luck in the future.

                          ____________________