[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       GUS R. DOUGLASS INSTITUTE

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on March 15, West Virginia State University 
will dedicate its new research institute in honor of the commissioner 
of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the legendary Mr. Gus 
R. Douglass. This is a wonderful and fitting tribute to a great West 
Virginian and outstanding public servant.
  Commissioner Douglass has served now 10 terms in his position, the 
longest reigning agriculture commissioner in the history of West 
Virginia, and, indeed, in the entire Nation. During his tenure, he has 
always demonstrated a sincere commitment to the farmers and to the 
people of West Virginia. His long and admirable record includes his 
support of programs designed to maintain family farms and new farming 
technologies and efforts to preserve a way of life that has become all 
too uncommon in our country. His work on behalf of our State's farmers 
has helped to improve the lives of all West Virginians.
  In his remarkable career, Commissioner Douglas has brought national 
recognition to West Virginia. He has served as the national president 
of Future Farmers of America, the first president of the national FFA 
Alumni Association, the president of the National Association of State 
Departments of Agriculture, and chairman of the Southern Regional 
Committee for Food and Agriculture, as well as numerous other 
positions.
  Meanwhile, Gus and his lovely wife, Anna Lee, have maintained their 
own family farm at Grimm's Landing in Mason County, WV. Along with 
their four children, and their families, they have done their part to 
continue the tradition upon which this great Nation was founded.
  The Gus R. Douglass Institute at West Virginia State University will 
be a lasting legacy to the outstanding and unwavering commitment of 
Commissioner Douglass to public service. I thank West Virginia State 
University for bestowing this honor upon him.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter which I wrote to 
Commissioner Douglass congratulating him on this well deserved 
recognition be printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                             United States Senate,


                                  Committee on Appropriations,

                                   Washington, DC, March 15, 2006.
     Hon. Gus R. Douglass,
     Commissioner of Agriculture, State of West Virginia, 
         Charleston, WV.
       Dear Gus: I am so pleased that West Virginia State 
     University is dedicating a research institute in your honor. 
     This is a wonderful tribute to a good friend, a great West 
     Virginian, and an outstanding public servant. 
     Congratulations!
       In your ten terms as Commissioner of the West Virginia 
     Department of Agriculture, you have faithfully demonstrated 
     that you are a true servant of the people, and have taken 
     seriously your sincere commitment to the farmers of West 
     Virginia. Your long and admirable record includes unwavering 
     support for family farms, new farming technologies, and a way 
     of life that has become all too uncommon in our country. 
     These and your many other efforts have helped to improve the 
     lives of all West Virginians.
       In naming this new research facility the ``Gus R. Douglass 
     Institute,'' West Virginia State University has not only 
     bestowed upon it respect and prestige, but also has ensured 
     that your commitment to service will reap benefits for 
     generations to come. This lasting legacy to your remarkable 
     career is well deserved and well earned, and I join all those 
     who have gathered today in extending my heartiest 
     congratulations.
       May the work and the research conducted in this facility be 
     as outstanding and productive as you have been, Gus. If it 
     is, it cannot be anything but an enormous success!
       With every good wish, I am
           Sincerely yours,
     Robert C. Byrd.

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