[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                            CHARLES E. KRUSE

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it is my honor and great privilege to 
recognize my fellow Missourian and personal friend, Mr. Charles E. 
Kruse, president of Missouri Farm Bureau. Mr. Kruse has been recently 
awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor awarded 
to Eagle Scouts by the Great Rivers Council. Today I am proud to join 
with family and friends to recognize and honor Mr. Kruse on this 
occasion.
  I have, over the course of my career, worked with Charlie Kruse on 
many occasions and have come to know him as a great friend and close 
ally on behalf of agriculture. In 1983, as Governor, I appointed 
Charlie to serve on the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Since 
his appointment Charlie went on to serve as director of the Missouri 
Department of Agriculture, as the sole Missourian on President Bush's 
Council on Rural America, Brigadier General of the National Guard, and 
as the exclusive vice president of North American Equipment Dealers 
Association.
  Since August of 1992, Charlie has solidified his longtime friendship 
with the Missouri farmer by serving as president of the Missouri Farm 
Bureau. He is a fourth generation farmer; is on the American Farm 
Bureau Federation Board of Directors; has served on numerous 
Presidential commissions making recommendations on farm, tax, trade and 
environmental policies, and; he is married to Pam--the lady whose name 
is on the farm combine and who harvests corn at home when Charlie is 
harvesting awards around the country.
  Charlie has been a close friend and advisor for as long as I have 
been in the Senate and longer than either of us care to admit. He has 
contributed immeasurably to his community, State and country. He is the 
product of generations of rural ancestors and is blessed to be deputy 
commander of his own terrific family. His tireless and enthusiastic 
contributions and his family inspire his love and inspiration. Charlie 
is as good a friend as rural America could ever have. We congratulate 
him for this important recognition and thank him for his for your 
service to our country.

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