[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17650-17651]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  ON THE RETIREMENT OF GEORGE CRAWFORD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to really 
a great person, a great leader, a truly decent man, and a dear friend 
on his retirement after nearly a quarter century of service to the 
House of Representatives, Mr. George Crawford.
  George is a master of policy, politics and procedures of this 
institution, and he must be one of the kindest people working on 
Capitol Hill. George has been invaluable to my office as the chief of 
staff of the leader's office and of this Congress.
  George began his distinguished career on the staff of the then 
Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama. He soon moved to the staff of the 
great Claude Pepper of Florida, who was chair of the Rules Committee, 
but, Mr. Speaker, in those days we still called him Senator Pepper.
  And George worked with him and quickly revealed his remarkable 
talents. Again he went with Senator Pepper to the Rules Committee while 
Senator Pepper was chairman and worked his way up to staff director 
under the magnificent chairman, Joe Moakley of Massachusetts, who was a 
colleague to many of us who serve here today.
  Today, having traveled a long and impressive arc, he retires as the 
chief of staff of the Democratic leader's office. I was privileged that 
George came to work for me nearly 4 years ago, shortly before I was 
elected House Democratic whip. George helped to take our staff to the 
next level, shaping and leading our office.
  George loves sports analogies, so let me say that first in the whip's 
office and then in the leader's office, George recruited the best 
talent, ran creative plays and always knew how to put points on the 
board.
  In the Democratic leader's office, George has been an innovative 
leader. He established a structure for reaching out beyond the Beltway; 
he built the strongest, most innovative Internet operation on the Hill; 
he has rolled up his sleeves with the policy staff; and he has helped 
shape our message to the American people. He is a gifted leader who 
gives staff guidance, but also room to grow. Young people in particular 
enjoyed working with him. He is both father figure and friend.
  Throughout his career, George has largely worked behind the scenes. 
He is interested in accomplishments, not credit. He is strictly a 
shirt-and-tie

[[Page 17651]]

kind of man, except when he is caught escaping to the golf course. And 
George has a comprehensive understanding of the rules of the House, and 
a keen sense of the Members. He has tutored so many Members, including 
me, on the intricacies of parliamentary procedure. He has earned the 
respect of Members and staff on both sides of the aisle.
  For someone who seems to know everything about the House of 
Representatives, George is a remarkably well-rounded person. He has a 
wonderful family. He is a loyal Dodgers fan. He loves golf, and he is a 
maestro with orchids. He is a connoisseur of wines and an expert on 
vineyards.
  Before his career on Capitol Hill, George held an assortment of jobs 
that reflect his unique spirit, including working as a baker, a short-
order cook and a railroad brakeman.
  Above all, though, George was and is a Californian at heart. That is 
why this goodbye is bittersweet for me; bitter because I will miss his 
unparalleled knowledge as well as his warmth and good humor, sweet 
because I know he will relish his return to the great Golden State of 
California. As a Californian for more than 36 years, I completely 
understand and share his desire to live in this country's most 
beautiful and most invigorating State.
  George and his family, his wife Mel and his two sons, will be moving 
to the area of Santa Barbara not far from where the movie Sideways, a 
love letter to wine, was filmed, where he can enjoy the reds and the 
whites and get back to his golf game that I understand has suffered in 
recent years due to lack of attention.
  He will always spend well-deserved time with his family. Again, I 
want to take the opportunity to thank George's wonderful wife Mel and 
his fine two sons, Curt and Casey, for sharing their father with us. It 
is hard to balance family life with work on Capitol Hill. We all 
appreciate the sacrifices that the Crawford family has made.
  I know that so many colleagues on both sides of the aisle join me in 
wishing George luck in the next phase of his career, and many happy 
years with his beloved family in California.
  With deep gratitude, respect, and affection, thank you, George, 
George Crawford, for your 24 years of service to the House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________