[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 23978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            DR. HARRY FRITZ

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a distinguished man 
and educator, Montana's 2004 Professor of the Year award winner, Dr. 
Harry Fritz.
  Harry was born in the State of Maryland, but he graduated from 
Missoula County High School in Montana in 1956. He attended Dartmouth 
College to earn his bachelor of arts degree. Harry's relationship with 
the University of Montana, located in Missoula, began when he attended 
the university to get his master of arts degree.
  After earning his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, 
Harry returned to the University of Montana, and that is where he has 
hung his hat ever since.
  Harry is the chairman of the Department of History and a full-time 
professor at the University of Montana. He exemplifies the type of 
professor Montana has come to expect from its higher education 
community. He is a first-rate guy. He is just aces. He is an educator 
who meets the highest standards of professional excellence. And he is a 
student's teacher. He connects with students and draws them into our 
Nation's history.
  I might say, I first met and knew Harry Fritz back about 1972, 
somewhere in there, when I was practicing law in Missoula, MT, and was 
running for the State legislature. Professor Fritz and a couple friends 
of ours would get together about every couple, three weeks and have 
pizza and beer. We called ourselves the ``Beer Committee,'' and Harry 
was head of the Beer Committee. It was a super bunch of friends. We 
would talk about the world's problems and service and what needed to be 
done for Montana and the Nation. It was, in many respects, the 
enthusiasm and knowledge of Harry Fritz that got me interested in 
public service. He is that kind of a guy.
  I might also say, he has a wonderful sense of humor. He is a tall 
man. He looks a lot like Abe Lincoln. When he puts on his beard, he 
portrays Abraham Lincoln and performs little skits. As a history 
professor, he is able to bring President Lincoln and lots of other 
aspects surrounding President Lincoln into his classes at the 
University of Montana.
  I might say, too, his classes are always the first to be fully 
subscribed. People want to go to Professor Fritz's history classes 
because he connects so much, he brings history to life so much, with a 
sense of humor, with compassion, and with insight and perception. It is 
no wonder he has been named Professor of the Year for 2004.
  Many of us who know Harry also are reminded of all the ways he has 
served. He not only is a history professor, a terrific professor at 
that, but he also served in the State legislature in Montana in the 
Montana Senate and the Montana House. He wants to do what he can to 
serve the people of our State. His wife Nancy is equally active, 
equally dedicated to service. Nancy, too, was a representative in the 
Montana State legislature at one time. So they are people who exemplify 
the best of human nature; that is, serving people.
  I have a view that the most noble human endeavor is service. It is 
service to community, it is service to church, it is service to 
friends, service in whatever way makes the most sense for each one of 
us. Many of us here believe that. That is why we are here. I certainly 
know that is why the Presiding Officer is here, who has so much 
believed in service in the various capacities that he has served his 
State and this Nation.
  Harry Fritz is another who believes in service. I think it is 
important to honor and recognize people such as Harry, because the more 
Harry Fritzes there are in this country, in this world, by far, the 
more quickly we are going to solve some mutual problems.
  I again pay my highest compliments to a wonderful friend, a terrific 
man, and one of the best professors any student could ever have, 
Professor Harry Fritz.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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