[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16317]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JERRY REESE FOR 36 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE FOREST SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 18, 2005

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
distinguished career of Jerry Reese, who recently retired after 36 
years of service in Idaho's national forests.
  Mr. Reese is a native son of Idaho, having grown up in Idaho Falls 
before receiving degrees in forestry and range management from the 
University of Idaho. For the past 11 years, Mr. Reese served as 
supervisor of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, which swelled during 
his tenure to include over three million acres across Idaho, Montana, 
Wyoming, and Utah.
  I am pleased that Mr. Reese made it his mission to ensure that his 
staff remained efficient, courteous, and dedicated while the size and 
responsibilities of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest grew larger. 
Under Mr. Reese's supervision, administrative realignments reduced 
duplication that would have naturally occurred when the Caribou and 
Targhee National Forests merged. His administrative shuffling allowed 
the real business of managing the forests to go forth.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Reese tempered contentious debate 
surrounding proposed road closures in and around grizzly habitats. He 
soothed public frustrations about the relocation of Caribou-Targhee's 
headquarters from St. Anthony to Idaho Falls. All-terrain vehicles grew 
in popularity on Mr. Reese's watch, and he learned how to balance 
public access with conservation. Through the easy decisions and the 
difficult ones, Mr. Reese kept in mind the long-term interests of the 
forests he oversaw and the people who use them.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Reese for 
his leadership in managing Idaho's forests. To Mr. Reese, I wish you 
the best in whatever you choose to do in retirement, whether it is 
volunteer service, fly fishing or just spending time with your family.

                          ____________________