[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15802-15803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING RICHARD LEE WILES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Miss McMorris). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a 
heavy heart. I rise today to honor Richard Lee Wiles, my friend, my 
former economic development and technical education coordinator, and a 
man who was as brilliant and farsighted as he was straightforward and 
unpretentious; the kind of man who brought dignity and integrity and a 
great deal of expertise to everything he did in life.
  I am sad to report that late in June, Richard, or Dick as he was 
known to friends and strangers alike, passed away while conducting his 
duties on behalf of people of the 5th district of Pennsylvania.
  Dick was more than an employee. He was a true friend and a loyal 
confidant. Dick graduated in 1958 from East Brady High School and in 
1963 from Penn State University where he received a bachelor's degree 
in agriculture and later a master's degree in communication.
  For many years he operated Nova Productions, a public relations firm 
that was very successful. But, Madam Speaker, more than just a 
knowledgeable counselor and an able communicator, Dick Wiles was truly 
a renaissance man. Evidence of this can be seen during his high school 
and college years when to pay for his education, Dick started and was 
an active member in a well known dance band, The Rhythm Knights.
  Indeed, he was a gentleman of the highest order who could cook, sing, 
fish, hunt, dance, paint, write poetry and prose, and charm everyone 
present within the sound of his voice. I used to joke that his charm 
almost earned him a seat in the Pennsylvania General Assembly over 25 
years ago when he came within a few hundred votes of defeating a long-
term popular incumbent, despite receiving absolutely no support, 
financial or otherwise, from the party structure or apparatus.
  Madam Speaker, Dick Wiles was one of the most politically savvy and 
intelligent, gifted people I have ever met. What made him special, 
though, was how he selflessly used his talent to serve his neighbors 
and better his community. More than once Dick told me that he loved his 
job so much that he felt guilty for receiving a pay check.
  But more than a humble public servant, Dick will be remembered as a 
humble servant of God, a man who deeply cared about the condition of 
his country; a husband who cherished his beautiful wife, Barbara; a 
father who loved his wonderful daughters, Julia and Jennifer; a 
grandfather who pampered his four lovely grandchildren, Seanna, Taylor, 
Alex and Colin; and was fond and took great care of his sister-in-law, 
Debbie, and her son, Ricky; a friend who reminded us all of what could 
be accomplished with a little hard work, gritty determination and 
general good will towards his fellow man.
  He was one of the finest conversationalists I have met and one of the 
most inquiring minds I ever dealt with. His interests were broad. His 
memory was phenomenal.
  Two years ago, Dick lost his lovely wife, Barb, unexpectedly. Since 
then he lived alone in east Brady and was very lonely. I knew that and 
I always had chatted with him often and always enjoyed those 
conversations, but I made it a habit to call him numerous times per 
day. I talked to him several times daily. I would call him on my way to 
the Capitol for a vote. I would call him in my apartment in the 
evenings. We would have lengthy chats. I would call him when I was 
traveling in my district at home because I have a large rural district. 
I enjoyed those visits I think more than he because he gave so much.
  Madam Speaker, Dick was a phenomenal leader on several issues. He 
helped me develop technical education in the 5th district by helping 
equip our

[[Page 15803]]

high schools with the newest, latest technology, and bringing technical 
schools and community colleges to help train our adults for the skilled 
technical jobs that are vital in today's high-tech economy. That was an 
education that we lacked.
  He also was my staff person who was my specialist to help promote 
tourism in the 5th district. He was my steady voice on Governor 
Rendell's Pennsylvania Wilds Working Group, a group joining 13 counties 
together in beautiful north central Pennsylvania to develop our tourism 
potential, an area rich in natural beauty, historic sites and scenic 
Route 6, Pennsylvania's elk herd, Kinzua Lake and the Allegheny 
National Forest.
  Dick truly loved his work and he was so good at it. He truly adored 
his family, his community, his State and his country. He was always a 
gentleman.
  Dick, we really miss you.
  Madam Speaker, I humbly submit these comments to the Record, and I 
humbly commit his spirit to the communion of saints above. May Dick 
rest in peace.

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