[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11448]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO GREG NELSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2008

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Greg Nelson, a 
resident of your Congressional District who retires today, June 4, 
2008, from the teaching of history for over 40 years.
  Greg earned his BA in political science and history at San Francisco 
State in 1967, and soon after began his career at Arcata High School 
teaching government and geography. He also worked as a volunteer for 
Vista, a grassroots organization that worked for school and community 
relations in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, before earning a 
master's degree in secondary education from the University of San 
Francisco in 1972. It was that autumn that Greg began teaching history 
at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.
  During his 35 years in the history department at Lick, Greg has built 
his reputation as an accomplished scholar of history and government, 
and a devoted mentor and advisor to students. His senior seminar in 
constitutional law remains one of the most popular offerings and helped 
spawn Constitution Day, which includes competitions and games for the 
entire student body to celebrate that glorious document. Greg possesses 
encyclopedic knowledge of U.S. history, to be sure, but always will be 
best known for his passion for teaching this history to his students 
year after year. During his tenure at Lick-Wilmerding, he has inspired 
over 2,500 students to become civically engaged and to take action in 
order to preserve the best in our democracy. How fitting, then, that 
the last student project that Greg led was an 8-day immersion in the 
workings of city government at San Francisco City Hall, which included 
opportunities for current students to work with many of his former 
students who now work in public service. What a gift!
  Over the years, Greg also has been a beloved student advisor, a happy 
and willing chaperone, and retreat leader. He has served as Department 
Chair, and has been a caring mentor to new faculty. His contributions 
to the school and the larger community truly are legendary. And most of 
all, his gentle nature and generous nature will be missed.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me 
in congratulating Greg Nelson for an extraordinary teaching career and 
thank him for honoring our Constitution, for enhancing our democracy, 
and for strengthening our community and our country.

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