[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO STUART PYLE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. 
Stuart Pyle of Bakersfield, California. Mr. Pyle was an exemplary 
advocate for effective water policy primarily in California's San 
Joaquin Valley.
  As a past manager of the Kern County Water Agency, Stuart is 
remembered by all who knew him for his love and dedication to his 
family, his commendable service to the community, and his success in 
managing the second largest water contractor in the State of 
California.
  Mr. Pyle was born in 1925 in Napa, California. He spent most of his 
adolescent years with his five siblings in Tahoe City and Auburn, 
California. As a Naval Officer during World War II, Mr. Pyle earned a 
degree in civil engineering in only three years. Following the war, he 
began his career in water as a developer of dams and canals for the 
California Department of Water Resources. As his career in water was 
established, he met his wife Virginia and married her in 1950.
  In 1967, the Pyle family moved to Pakistan, where Stuart worked as a 
project manager for water systems for three years. When the Pakistani 
Civil War broke out they were forced to move back to the United States. 
Upon his arrival to the states, Stuart was hired as the manager of 
National Water Issues for the Federal Government in Washington DC. 
After three years in DC, he was offered a job as manager of the Kern 
County Water Agency. Stuart spent the next 17 years of his life 
dedicated to advancing water policy in Kern County.
  Throughout his life Mr. Pyle was extremely involved in his community. 
He served on the National Academies of Science, was a Member of the 
Rotary Club, and was an active supporter of the Bakersfield Assistant 
League. Even while enjoying retirement, he was active in the United 
States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. In addition to being a 
life long advocate of water policy, he was also a dedicated member of 
the Christian Science Church where he was a reader on the Board of 
Directors.
  Mr. Pyle is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years Virginia, their 
five children; Linda, Jennifer, Stuart, Marianna, and Tom, and his nine 
grandchildren.
  Stuart Pyle led a happy life full of love and adventure. His 
professional achievements will leave an eternal legacy for his family 
and community.

                          ____________________