[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO GEORGE STRANDELL

 Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, I wish today to recognize and 
commend George Strandell of South Dakota for his nearly 40 years of 
service to Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. George is 
retiring after serving the past 8 years as general manager and chief 
executive officer of Golden West.
  George worked for 19 years as a primary engineering consultant for 
the Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative before being hired as 
the company's outside plant engineer. He served in that capacity for 4 
years before serving 8 years as district manager and then 8 years as 
general manager of Golden West.
  Throughout his career, George had dedicated himself to building 
effective relationships and partnerships on behalf of Golden West and 
the independent telecommunications industry. He is well-respected 
throughout South Dakota, the region and Nation as an effective 
communicator, an administrator willing to tackle and resolve personnel 
and industry challenges and issues. He is able to effectively 
communicate to elected leaders and officials on issues affecting Golden 
West customers, employees, and the independent industry.
  Throughout his career, he has always worked hard to put the customer 
first. He has helped expand and enhance Golden West's role in the 
industry, among allies and associates, but also improved the company's 
ability to serve rural communities and customers and the overall 
general public.
  George provided steadfast oversight to the South Dakota Network, 
which was formed by a number of South Dakota independent 
telecommunications firms to offer customers more choice in long 
distance service. George spent considerable time and effort working 
with other managers to ensure the network's success to move voice, 
data, and video over 20,000 miles of fiber optics throughout the 
region. Access lines have increased under George from 31,000 in 2000 to 
43,000 in 2008, as well as Internet access increasing from 5,000 to 
23,000 in the same period.
  On a national level, George has been a stalwart advocate in promoting 
and assisting the independent industry. He has served on numerous 
boards and committees that have advanced the promotion and 
understanding of the issues affecting the independent 
telecommunications firms and their customers.
  Over the years, I have relied on George's guidance and understanding 
of the many issues affecting the telecommunications industry. I have 
appreciated his insight and input and I want to wish him all the best 
in this well-deserved retirement. I know that whatever his pursuits in 
retirement, he will approach them with the same level-headed, calm, and 
committed approach that earned him deep respect over his accomplished 
career with Golden West.

                          ____________________