[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11376]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO FRED KROEGER

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to Fred Kroeger and thank him for the remarkable civic 
contributions he has made to his Durango community and the State of 
Colorado. A lifelong resident of the Durango area, Fred was recently 
recognized by Club 20 for his service to Western Colorado with the 
prestigious Vanderhoof Award. It is with great satisfaction that I 
congratulate a good friend of mine for his significant contributions to 
the Durango Community.
  Fred was born and raised in Durango where he graduated from Durango 
High School. He later attended Fort Lewis College for two years, and 
went on to receive a degree in Agronomy from Colorado State University. 
Using his degree, he managed his family's agriculture supply business. 
His natural leadership in the business arena aided in his election to 
the Board of the National Retail Hardware Association in 1965 where he 
went on to serve as the Association's President.
  Fred has spent a lifetime supporting local civic matters, from the 
Fort Lewis College Foundation Board to the Board of the First National 
Bank of Durango. His most lasting contribution to Western Colorado 
however, will be the decades of leadership which he has contributed to 
Colorado's water arena. He served on the Colorado Water Conservation 
Board for twenty-one years, and the Southwest Water Conservation 
District Board since 1954 where he served the District as President. 
The District covers six counties and portions of three others in 
Southwest Colorado. Fred also dedicated countless hours over the years 
to secure the passage of the Animas La Plata water project, which gives 
the Ute Indian Tribe the water resources promised to them in an earlier 
treaty.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Fred Kroeger before this 
body of Congress and this nation, and congratulate him on receiving the 
Vanderhoof Award from Club 20. The award is a well-deserved testament 
to Fred's willingness to provide his time and experience to his fellow 
citizens. It is my privilege to extend to Fred my sincerest thanks for 
his years of dedicated service and wish him all the best in his future 
endeavors.

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