[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF STEVE THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
distinguished public service of Steve Thompson. After more than 30 
years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he is retiring on August 
2nd.
  Steve Thompson served as the Director of the Service's California and 
Nevada Region. In this post he oversaw Service programs in California, 
Nevada and Klamath Basin that administered the Endangered Species Act 
and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and managed 51 national wildlife 
refuges, and three national fish hatcheries.
  Prior to coming to Sacramento, Thompson was based in Atlanta as the 
Regional Chief for the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Service's 
Southeast Region. Prior to serving in Atlanta, he spent three years as 
the Branch Chief for Resource Management for the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Headquarters in Washington, DC
  Thompson began his career with the Service as a wildlife biologist at 
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns, Oregon, moving on to the 
Puget Sound National Wildlife Refuge in Olympia, Washington, and 
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge in Fallon, Nevada, before becoming 
refuge manager at Laguna Atacosa National Wildlife Refuge in Rio Hondo, 
Texas.
  In 1994 Thompson was chosen as the first ``Refuge Manager of the 
Year'' by the National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Refuge 
Association. In September 2007, he earned the Distinguished Executive 
Award, the highest Presidential Rank Award given to career Senior 
Executive Service employees.
  Thompson, was born in Nevada and raised in both Nevada and 
California, where he graduated in 1976 from Humboldt State University 
with a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management. He is a 
competitive swimmer, avid birdwatcher and hunter.
  Throughout his career at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mr. 
Steve Thompson has been well known for his balanced, common sense 
approach. His partnership philosophy and demonstrated ability to work 
with diverse stakeholders will be missed. As he embarks on a new 
chapter in his life, I wish him continued success and good luck in all 
his future endeavors.

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