[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD BELDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2007

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay great 
honor to Representative Richard Belden, who passed away on August 20, 
2007. Belden proudly represented Shelton, Connecticut in the state 
House of Representatives for 33 years and he was the longest serving 
lawmaker in the history of the Connecticut State House.
  Dick Belden was born in Derby and graduated from Shelton High School. 
During his 33 years in the State House, Belden advocated a variety of 
issues such as fiscal restraint, open space preservation, and tough 
drunk-driving laws to improve the State of Connecticut. Recently, 
Representative Belden was the deputy House Republican leader-at-large 
and he served as the ranking member of the tax-writing finance 
committee for several years. Belden will also be remembered as an 
adamant questioner on the 10-member State Bond Commission. In 1984 
Belden became deputy speaker when the Republicans briefly regained the 
House. Richard Belden was admired and a mentor to many of his 
colleagues. I was fortunate enough to serve with him and work with him 
on many issues. Above all, he was a man of integrity; his word was his 
bond. He will be missed at the Capitol. He will be remembered for his 
many years of service and his commitment to his constituents and to the 
state of Connecticut, but most of all as the ``Dean of the House.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the 
life and accomplishments of Richard Belden. My thoughts and prayers are 
with his wife of 51 years, Bertha Kurtyka Belden and all those who 
loved him. We will remember Belden as a dedicated member of the State 
House who touched the lives of many.

                          ____________________