[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2355]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING WILLIAM (BILL) DENNISON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 21, 2008

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to express my warm thanks, 
congratulations, and best wishes to William (Bill) Dennison. Mr. 
Dennison is being recognized by the California Board of Forestry and 
Fire Protection and will be the recipient of its highest honor, the 
Francis H. Raymond Award for his 30 years of service and commitment to 
the California forest industry.
  After being raised in rural Northern California, Mr. Dennison earned 
a bachelor of science degree in forestry from the University of 
California, Berkeley in 1959. Bill's passion for the forest began while 
working for the Diamond Match Lumber Company in Stirling City, and 
within a few short years, he became a registered professional forester.
  Mr. Dennison's knowledge and leadership in the forest industry set 
him apart from others and quickly qualified him to take the reins as 
the vice president and later president of the California Forestry 
Association (CFA). During his 14 year tenure, Bill represented the 
industry both in Sacramento and Washington, DC, and was able to 
navigate CFA through some of the most difficult forest management 
issues it ever faced.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Dennison has distinguished himself as a 
visionary leader with the ability to educate the public on the value 
that California forest products provide. Bill was a critical member of 
the Quincy Library Group, helped organize the National Forest Counties 
and Schools Coalition and later served as the executive director of the 
Sierra Cascade Logging Conference.
  Although Mr. Dennison's accomplishments in the forest industry are 
legendary, his greatest legacy may be his commitment to advancing 
forestry education programs and creating a network of forest community 
organizations known as the Alliance for Environment and Resources that 
are today the model throughout the country.
  Most recently, Mr. Dennison served as the Third District supervisor 
for Plumas County. He quickly became a national leader on resource 
conservation, water quality and rural management issues while serving 
as chairman of the Public Lands Steering Committee for the National 
Association of Counties.
  Bill has served on numerous boards and commissions and has received 
dozens of community and national awards including: the Plaque of 
Commendation by the National Forest Products Association; Award of 
Appreciation for Services by the National Forest Counties and Schools 
Coalition; and my favorite, selected twice with his wife Pat, as the 
Grand Marshall for the Chester Rotary Club Fourth of July Parade.
  It is with deep respect and personal gratitude that I thank Bill 
Dennison for his service to the forest industry and to the citizens of 
Northern California.

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