[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WOODY LAUGHNAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
outstanding career of Mr. Woody Laughnan.
  For over 20 years, Woody contributed his wit, intelligence, and 
passion to the Fresno Bee and our community. His work was widely read 
by the people of our Valley, and his regular column reflected his own 
personal biography while informing so many of our daily lives.
  Born in 1924, Woody was a Montana native who served in World War II. 
He dedicated his career to the printed word, and his work in the 
newspaper industry took him from the Martinez News-Gazette to the Paso 
Robles Press. Along the way, Woody worked as a reporter, an editor, an 
advertising salesman, and a publisher.
  The Fresno Bee and its readers were lucky enough to land Woody in 
1967. His Around Here column became a mainstay of its pages, and the 
stories and wisdom he passed along touched so many in our Valley. While 
Woody's column ended in 1989, I can still remember opening the Bee and 
turning to the latest edition of Around Here.
  Outside of work, Woody was dedicated to his family and helping those 
in need. His charity over the years was remarkable and he will be 
remembered by his generosity and compassion.
  Madam Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with Woody's family and 
friends as we honor the life of an individual who contributed so much 
to our Valley.

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