[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24256-24257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. PETER G. MEHAS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman 
Radanovich to congratulate Dr. Peter Mehas upon his induction into the 
Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Mehas was honored at the 50th 
anniversary enshrinement dinner of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on 
Thursday, November 6, 2008.
  Peter Mehas' love of sports was nurtured during his childhood, as he 
shagged baseballs as a bat boy for the Fresno Cardinals at Euless Park. 
Although he never considered himself a great athlete, Dr. Mehas was an 
All-American center/linebacker at Fresno City College, and a member of 
the 1961 California State University, Fresno Mercy Bowl team. After 
graduating from California State University, Fresno, Dr. Mehas coached 
the football, soccer and tennis teams at Roosevelt High School. His 
tennis teams won five straight North Yosemite League titles.
  After receiving his masters degree, and coaching football at 
University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Mehas returned to Fresno 
where he taught and coached future Fresno Hall of Famers Charle Young 
and Charles Anthony, both football players at Edison High School. Dr. 
Mehas moved into administration for Clovis Unified School District, and 
assisted in the development of many programs and facilities; including 
Clovis High School's Lamonica Stadium and the Clovis West High School 
Olympic Swim Complex. He earned his doctorate in Education from the 
University of Southern California in 1979.
  Dr. Mehas has served as the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame president 
for 15 years. At the time of his induction, his professional and civic 
career is a notable example of applying the lessons learned in 
athletics to other endeavors. Under his leadership, the Hall of

[[Page 24257]]

Fame expanded on its mission of honoring the Valley's greatest sports 
heroes and inspiring youngsters to follow in their footsteps. He also 
has been instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities for women.
  Politics came next as Dr. Mehas served as Governor George 
Deukmejian's secretary of education and a trustee for the State Board 
of Education and California's Community Colleges. In 1990, he was 
elected to the first of four terms as the Fresno County superintendent 
of schools. In 2007, he was appointed to the California State 
University board of trustees.
  Madam Speaker, we rise today to commend and congratulate Dr. Peter 
Mehas upon his achievements and induction into the Fresno Athletic Hall 
of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Mehas 
congratulations on his many accomplishments.

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