[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23665-23666]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROBERT POIROT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and honor 
Robert Poirot for his exemplary public service as Clear Creek County 
Commissioner for the past twelve years. I would also like to thank him 
on behalf of all Coloradans for the in-depth and diverse philanthropic 
work he has contributed to the community. He is a dedicated public 
servant who has devoted himself to ensuring that Colorado remains a 
very special place to live.
  Throughout his life, Bob has demonstrated time and time again that he 
excels in all of his endeavors. Whether it is in the Armed Forces, 
education, or government, Bob has shown that he can apply his 
leadership skills effectively in any arena. He has received numerous 
awards during his long and extensive career, most recently the 
prestigious Distinguished Service Award of Colorado Counties, Inc. . . 
. This award is a true testament to Bob's abilities to work together 
with all interests for the common good.
  Between 1959 and 1992, Bob achieved the rank of Brigadier General in 
the Colorado Army National Guard. During this time, he also served for 
thirty-two years as a school teacher, including four years on the Board 
of Education. At the same time, he found time to coach both football 
and track. Upon retirement, he was awarded the Distinguished Service 
Award by the Jefferson County School District.
  Using his extensive command of the issues, Bob participated in and 
offered advice to almost every steering committee throughout his twelve 
years serving as County Commissioner. Building upon this, he also 
testified here at the nation's Capital in support of legislation to 
preserve and maintain public lands in Clear Creek County which are 
important for wildlife and the quality of life in Colorado. During this 
time, I was able to personally work at length with Bob in mutual 
support of the environment, an issue that remains high on the agenda of 
all Coloradans. Thanks to his leadership, more than 6,000 acres of land 
were properly distributed to public and private land owners, ensuring 
that the Front Range population will continue to enjoy this cherished 
and pristine land for many years.
  Along these same lines, Bob has worked tirelessly on local issues in 
the state. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Denver 
Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), Bob spearheaded many regional 
policies. Working on transportation issues has proved to be one of his 
strong suits, as he has emphasized the creation of a new bus service to 
connect adjacent Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties. Another of Bob's 
transportation successes occurred when he helped gain approval of the 
Guanella Pass Road Project from the Federal Highway Administration's 
federal lands program. The result will be to improve this important and 
scenic roadway affecting numerous jurisdictions including Park County, 
the Town of Georgetown, and the U.S. Forest Service.

[[Page 23666]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our 
gratitude to Robert Poirot for his many years of public service and his 
contributions to the people of Colorado. Robert has displayed 
exceptional moral fiber throughout his life, and for that I believe we 
should acknowledge and celebrate his work and accomplishments. Bob's 
tireless dedication to his community and country stands as a model for 
what can be accomplished when citizens participate in our democracy. 
Although he is leaving his service as a county commissioner, I am sure 
that he will remain active and involved in the community. I wish him 
and his family good health and happiness for many years to come.

                          ____________________