[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF DENNIS MANGERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise in tribute to Dennis Mangers as he 
retires after nearly 27 successful years with the California Cable & 
Telecommunications Association. As Dennis enters the next phase in his 
life and his family and friends gather to celebrate his illustrious 
career, I ask that all my colleagues join me in honoring his many 
remarkable accomplishments.
  For the last 27 years, Dennis has been a tireless pioneer for the 
cable industry. As a chief lobbyist and then the head of the California 
Cable & Telecommunications Association, Dennis has garnered many 
accolades for his efforts. In 1994, he was given the Brad Wojcoski 
Award, an honor reserved to recognize a cable and telecommunications 
industry employee whose efforts have made a significant impact in the 
fight against HIV and AIDS in their local community. In 1998 he 
received the Vanguard Award, which is the cable industry's highest 
decoration for outstanding service at the State and regional level. And 
in 2004, Dennis was inducted into the Cable Center's Cable Pioneer 
Exhibit, which applauds groundbreaking leaders in the cable industry.
  In addition to his invaluable work in the private sector for the 
cable industry, Dennis has had an impressive career in the public 
sector. His remarkable journey began as a teacher in the Long Beach 
Unified School District in 1964. As an educator, Dennis worked 
diligently to ensure that every child received equal access to quality 
education. In 1968, he became one of California's youngest school 
principals, serving first at the Earlimart Elementary School in Tulare 
and later at the Fountain Valley Elementary School in Orange County.
  Dennis's devotion to improving our educational system continued with 
him as a California State Assemblyman. Elected in 1976, he quickly 
became the chair of the Subcommittee on Educational Reform. This 
allowed him to lead the State Legislative Task Force for the 
Improvement of Pre- and In-Service Training for School Administrators. 
This program helped recruit teachers and school administrators for 
California's educational system. Additionally, during his time in the 
Assembly, Dennis authored the Gifted and Talented Education Act (GATE). 
The GATE program is now a staple of California's educational system and 
allows for unique educational opportunities for students who have been 
identified as high achieving.
  From his love for singing, to his enthusiasm for education, to his 
years giving back to the public as an elected official, Dennis has 
experienced many great things in his lifetime while also being active 
with many nonprofits. Throughout his career Dennis has championed 
tolerance and appreciation of diversity in the Sacramento region and 
across California. Dennis was a founding member and currently serves as 
the chairman of the board of directors for the Capitol Unity Council. 
The council was formed after the murder of a gay couple and the 
torching of three of Sacramento's synagogues in 1999. The council works 
to promote tolerance in the community, and Dennis has been leading the 
effort to build a center for diversity in downtown Sacramento. Thanks 
to his vision, this project is moving forward and upon completion will 
serve as an interactive learning experience where youth and visitors 
will engage in programs and activities that embrace inclusion, honor 
California's diversity, and motivate people to play an active role in 
building unity in their communities.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the numerous contributions 
made by Dennis during his lifetime of service. During his career he has 
worked tirelessly to further causes he believes in and has touched many 
people's lives both directly and indirectly. On behalf of the people of 
Sacramento and the Fifth Congressional District of California, I ask 
all my colleagues to join me in thanking my friend, Dennis Mangers, for 
his public service as we wish him success in his future endeavors.

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