[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31684]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ERNIE LOMBARD

  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to give recognition to Ernie 
Lombard who has been at the forefront of preserving and recording 
Idaho's great past.
  For more than 20 years, Ernie has had a vision of a State park that 
would showcase Idaho's mining history and allow for motorized 
recreation. In 2009, the vision was realized when thanks to Ernie's 
leadership, the Bayhorse ghost town in Custer County became the newest 
addition to Idaho's State park system.
  It was not an easy task. Many parcels in the park needed to have 
century-old toxic mine waste removed. Bayhorse was one of the first 
sites in the country to use brownfields grant funds to accomplish that 
feat. The work was such a success the Bayhorse project was awarded the 
Partners in Conservation Award by the U.S. Department of the Interior 
for outstanding conservation results among many partners.
  As an architect, Ernie has had a hand in designing several of Idaho's 
most significant buildings. His talents and passion for architecture 
and history, along with a strong interest in photography and art, have 
preserved Idaho's rugged and unique past. Ernie's photographic library 
includes more than 3,000 images of historic Idaho buildings. His 
presentation, ``Ghost Towns of Idaho'' has been presented to audiences 
more than 200 times. Every school district in the State has the video 
created from this presentation to use in teaching Idaho history.
  His work on a county historical advisory board led to the 
preservation of the historic Guffey railroad bridge across the Snake 
River between Canyon and Owyhee Counties. This bridge is a centerpiece 
for Celebration Park.
  Ernie also conducts historical ``safaris'' to ghost towns such as 
Silver City and teaches about Idaho ghost towns and photography in the 
Boise Community Education Program. He is the longest continuing 
education instructor in the history of the program having taught 27 
years.
  Recently, the Idaho State Historical Society awarded Ernie Lombard 
with their ``Esto Perpetua'' award for significant contributions to the 
preservation of Idaho history.
  It is indeed an honor for me to give recognition to Ernie Lombard for 
his vision and many years of work to preserve Idaho's significant 
history and his passion and willingness to educate Idahoans and others 
about our wonderful State. Future generations of Idahoans have received 
a great gift from Ernie Lombard, and we are very grateful.

                          ____________________