[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9980-9981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               PAYING TRIBUTE TO VERNON AND DARLENE BURK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Vernon and Darlene 
Burk for their 55

[[Page 9981]]

years of marriage and for their service to the Boulder City community.
  Their 55 years of marriage exemplify a loving relationship. They both 
are hard-working, generous, compassionate, resourceful, wise and are 
outstanding role models for their four children, Dianna, Karen, Jackie, 
and Michael and six grandchildren.
  Vernon and Darlene's exceptional character is evident in their 
professional lives as well. Vern served the Clark County School 
District for 30 years, retiring as the Associate Superintendent of 
Facilities and Transportation. He now serves on the Boulder City 
Hospital Board. As a small business owner, Darlene ran the Burk Fine 
Arts Gallery for 25 years. Darlene not only participated in the Boulder 
City Chamber of Commerce, she also served as President. During her time 
with the Chamber of Commerce, she was instrumental in creating the Old 
Town Merchants Association and was named ``Woman of the Year.''
  Both Vernon and Darlene are extremely active in Bethany Baptist 
Church, where Vernon is on the Board of Elders and Darlene had served 
as treasurer. Five years ago, the Burk Horizon Academy, an alternative 
high school in Las Vegas, was named in their honor. They also managed 
the renovation of the Boulder City Dam Hotel, a historic landmark and 
place to be for the rich and famous during the 1930s.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Vernon and Darlene Burk on the 
floor of the United States House of Representatives. They are very 
good, personal friends of mine, and I thank them for their continued 
service to the State of Nevada.

                          ____________________