[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6289-6290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       HONORING PAUL BESSELIEVRE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2001

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor 
Paul Besselievre, the recently retired C.E.O./Owner of Valley Trane, 
who was recently featured in an Executive Profile for the Fresno 
Business Journal newspaper. The question and answer Executive Profile, 
printed in the Fresno Business Journal on February 26, 2001, reads as 
follows:

       Q. What is the best thing about your job?
       A. Dealing with professionals within the company and the 
     community.
       Q. What is the worst thing about your job?
       A. Those 7 a.m. meetings.
       Q. What is your best professional accomplishment?
       A. Training many young engineers and other professionals to 
     be successful in the industry, and hopefully, in life.
       Q. If you could effect any change in the business 
     community, what would it be?
       A. To get back to doing business with a handshake, where a 
     man's word is his bond, and lawyers are used mostly to write 
     your will.
       Q. What is your best personal accomplishment?
       A. My wife of 39 years is still my sweetheart. Every Friday 
     is date night. And we still make out.
       Q. What is a good yardstick of success?
       A. Good friends and a family that loves you.
       Q. Best decision?
       A. I asked Carol Poljansek to marry me.
       Q. Worst decision?
       A. To skate across Bear Butte Lake before the ice was thick 
     enough. This should stimulate thought.
       Q. What is the community service project or event closest 
     to your heart?
       A. I belong to too many organizations to pick one. Each has 
     a special place in my heart, or I wouldn't be a part of it. I 
     couldn't pick a favorite child. Any organization or project 
     that improves the livability of my community is close to my 
     heart.
       Q. Best advice you've ever received?
       A. One night in 1965 while working late, Earl Nightengale 
     came on the radio and asked a simple question. What do you 
     say when someone asks, ``Will you do me a favor?'' Most 
     people ask what it is. He encouraged them to just say 
     ``sure.'' It's an attitude. Expect the best of people. If 
     they ask for something unreasonable, you can always recant. 
     What you learn when you expect the best of people is that you 
     usually get it. This change in attitude becomes a way of 
     life. That 10-minute broadcast had a profound impact on me. 
     Life as an optimist is a lot more enjoyable.
       Q. Favorite book?
       A. The Children's Stories of the Bible. My parents read it 
     to my sister and me, and Carol and I read it to our children.
       Q. Favorite recreational activities?
       A. Camping, skiing, fishing, cooking. Any activity 
     outdoors, especially in the mountains.
       Q. Where did you spend your most recent vacation?
       A. A trip to Kansas City to spend Thanksgiving with my 
     children, grandchildren, mother, sister, niece, nephew, and 
     friends who are also family.
       Q. What type of car do you drive?
       A. A 1983 Buick Riviera convertible.
       Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
       A. Every ethnic restaurant. We will never run out of 
     favorites. This area is rich with them. Indian, Thai, 
     Chinese, Japanese, Basque, Italian, Mexican, Cajun, 
     Vietnamese, Armenian, etc.
       Q. What was your first job?

[[Page 6290]]

       A. Emptying wastebaskets in an office building after school 
     in Lemmon, South Dakota when I was 10 years old. Moved on to 
     a lawn mowing and snow shoveling business when I was 12.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend Paul Besselievre for his years 
of dedicated and distinguished service to his community. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Besselievre a pleasant retirement 
and many more years of continued success.

                          ____________________