[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LOU HERWALDT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lou 
Herwaldt upon being awarded with the ``2009 Leon S. Peters Award.'' Mr. 
Herwaldt was honored at a luncheon held by the Greater Fresno Area 
Chamber of Commerce on February 18, 2009.
  The Herwaldt name has had a lasting significance in the Fresno 
community. For almost sixty years Lou Herwaldt has been providing 
vehicles, service and employment to the residents of the Central 
Valley. In 1955, Mr. Herwaldt went to work for Frank J. Saunders 
dealership and after nearly twenty years he decided to establish his 
own firm. In 1969, Mr. Herwaldt opened Sierra-Chrysler Plymouth. In 
forty years, his dealerships have represented ten auto models, 
including Oldsmobile, Mercedes Benz, Subaru and Saturn. Throughout his 
career, he has excelled at all levels and was even named to serve on 
the General Motors President's Council; he served in the group that 
developed the new ``Saturn'' brand for General Motors.
  Mr. Herwaldt has also been an active member in the Fresno community. 
He served thirteen years on the Board of Fresno Community Hospital, 
including seven years as Chairman. He was instrumental to the formation 
of the present multi-campus Community Regional Medical Center. He has 
been a member of the North Fresno Rotary Club for forty years and 
served as president. Mr. Herwaldt has chaired the boards for the Fresno 
Leadership Foundation and Fresno Youth for Christ. He has served on the 
boards of the Fresno Better Business Bureau and Master's College in 
Castaic, California. Finally, Mr. Herwaldt is a board member of the 
Fansler Foundation and founded the Herwaldt Foundation, primarily 
supporting faith-based charitable organizations. He has received many 
accolades for his contributions including being named the 2002 St. 
Agnes Hospital Benefactor of the Year.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Lou 
Herwaldt. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his 
accomplishments and wishing him the best in future endeavors.

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