[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13962-13964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LARRY MIZEL

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a great Coloradan--Larry A. Mizel--on the occasion of his 
70th birthday on September 14.
  There are few Coloradans who embody the spirit of the Centennial 
State as well as my friend Larry, and it is a privilege today for me to 
be able to share my thoughts about him with my Senate colleagues.
  Larry is many things to many people, but at root, I think of Larry as 
an independent thinker; a savvy businessman; a man who cares about the 
world, his community and his family; and a man whose philanthropic 
reach is as wide as the Rocky Mountains are tall.
  I ask my colleagues to indulge me while I talk a bit about Larry and 
recount some of his most notable accomplishments. The list is long, but 
his work stands as a model for others.

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  Larry always has believed in the value of a good education, and his 
own educational history is impressive. He graduated with a bachelor's 
degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 
1964, and 3 years later, Larry received his law degree from the 
esteemed University of Denver College of Law.
  From there, Larry took off at warp speed.
  In 1972, Larry founded the company that became M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., 
which is one of the Nation's top homebuilders. M.D.C is the parent 
corporation to Richmond American Homes and is a New York Stock 
Exchange-listed company.
  Forty years after founding M.D.C., Larry still serves as chairman and 
chief executive officer of the company. That is an amazing run, with a 
lot more to come, I hope and predict.
  Under Larry's visionary leadership, M.D.C. consistently has 
maintained one of the strongest financial positions in the industry.
  But it is not just profits that distinguish M.D.C. M.D.C. also is 
known for its high-quality work. For example, M.D.C. has the 
distinction of being one of the few homebuilding-based companies to 
receive an investment-grade rating from all three rating agencies.
  Larry has never been one to rest on his laurels. In addition to 
M.D.C., he has pursued other business ventures. Larry was a founder 
and, until 1996 chairman of the board of Asset Investors Corporation, a 
New York Stock Exchange-listed real estate investment trust, as well as 
of Commercial Assets Inc., a real estate investment trust that traded 
on the American Stock Exchange. In addition, Larry served as chairman 
of the board of directors of Omnibank, a multi-bank holding company, 
until its sale to KeyCorp in 1995.
  Yet, Larry is known in Colorado for more than these business-world 
accomplishments, as impressive as they are. Larry stands as a shining 
example to Coloradans about how to enrich the communities in which we 
live and to give voice to those who sometimes cannot speak loudly 
enough for themselves.
  Larry has been actively involved in numerous charitable, religious, 
and community causes, some that reach beyond our borders.
  For example, there are few leaders in Colorado who care as deeply as 
Larry does about issues related to Israel and to Jews around the world. 
Larry is a member of the national board of directors of the American 
Israel Public Affairs Committee better known as AIPAC which works to 
ensure a strong United States-Israel relationship.
  Larry also is one of the founders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an 
international human rights organization, based in Los Angeles, CA. He 
has served as the International Chairman of the board of trustees of 
the Wiesenthal Center since 2003. As most of us know, the Wiesenthal 
Center helps to accomplish goals that Larry holds dear--namely, 
promoting tolerance and combating racism and anti-Semitism around the 
world.
  It bears noting that the educational arm of the Wiesenthal Center--
the Museum of Tolerance--is a recipient of the 2004 Tolerance Award 
given at the United Nations. It is a world-class human rights 
laboratory and learning center dedicated to challenging visitors to 
confront important contemporary issues.
  Closer to home, Larry also founded the Mizel Arts and Culture 
Center--known as the MACC--located in Denver at the Jewish Community 
Center. The MACC aims to illuminate the human experience through 
performing, visual, and literary arts for the Jewish community and the 
community at large.
  Larry's interests and expertise in international affairs extend far. 
For example, he is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, 
an independent organization dedicated to finding solutions to the 
challenging foreign policy choices facing the United States and other 
countries--choices made all the more challenging after the terrorist 
attacks of 9/11.
  Thankfully, Larry has brought his business acumen into the public 
policy arena. For example, in 1986 Larry founded and served as the 
inaugural chairman of Colorado Concern, an organization committed to 
promoting sustainable business growth and advancing the economic well-
being of Colorado. I am privileged to work closely with Colorado 
Concern, especially in these tough economic times, when we are all 
searching for innovative ways to get our Nation back on sounder 
economic footing.
  Larry also is a founding member of the Denver Rustlers, a group that 
has given him the opportunity to work with other Colorado business 
leaders to support community youth. As with Colorado Concern, I have 
been fortunate to participate in events with the Denver Rustlers. From 
raising scholarship money, to supporting participants at the Junior 
Livestock Sale at the annual Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, to opening 
the Denver Rustlers Kids Cafe in 1994 to combat childhood hunger, Larry 
has been instrumental in the Denver Rustlers' positive effect on 
children's lives.
  I also want to take a moment to underline another great love of 
Larry's--another pursuit that fills Coloradans with pride. Larry is the 
founder of the Mizel Museum in Denver. The Mizel Museum provides 
regular artistic and educational programs that promote community 
understanding and tolerance for residents of the Rocky Mountain region. 
It is a stunning facility that makes a big difference in our state.
  As part of the Mizel Museum and its related Mizel Institute, in 2004 
Larry founded another crown jewel: the Counterterrorism Education 
Learning Lab, better known as the CELL. The CELL is a nonprofit 
institution dedicated to the prevention of terrorism through education. 
Located in Denver, the CELL's exhibit was developed in consultation 
with world-renowned thought leaders and award-winning artists.
  As Larry points out, it is the only exhibit of its kind in the world 
and has evolved into a greater institute for terrorism prevention and 
preparedness training. Through its acclaimed exhibits, distinguished 
speakers series, and training programs, the CELL has impacted thousands 
of individuals and has helped to enhance our public safety. Many 
Members of this Chamber have visited the CELL and have witnessed 
firsthand the power of its dynamic programs and interactive exhibits.
  In early 2012, I was proud to colead, with Larry and the CELL, a 
public event that examined our Nation's foreign policy challenges 10 
years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is a testament to Larry that 
the event was able to attract a broad range of top national security 
experts, Members of Congress, policymakers, the media, and members of 
the public.
  Over the years, many acclaimed organizations have recognized Larry's 
work and his philanthropy. I want to name some of the honors that he 
has received.
  In 1987, Larry received the National Humanitarian Award from National 
Jewish Health, a global leader in the research and treatment of 
respiratory, immune and related diseases.
  In 1996, Larry was named honorary dean of the University of Denver's 
Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management.
  In 2001, he was one of the recipients of the distinguished Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor, which gives tribute to the immigrant experience 
and individual achievement.
  In 2002, Larry was awarded the title Honorary Irishman by the Ancient 
Order of Hiberians, a Catholic-Irish-American Fraternal Organization 
founded in 1836, for his work supporting the Heroes of 9/11.
  In 2005, Larry received the Defenders of Freedom Award from the 
National Homeland Defense Foundation, an organization that is dedicated 
to securing freedom in the fields of homeland defense and security.
  In 2010, he was awarded the Ben S. Wendelken Special Trustees' Award 
by Colorado's El Pomar Foundation, for embodying the spirit of service 
and giving through his life's work.
  And in 2011, Larry received the Steve Ross Lifetime Achievement Award 
from the Milken Institute and was named a Colorado State Patrol 
Honorary Colonel.

[[Page 13964]]

  I could go on and on, but I think these examples help illustrate the 
scope of Larry's work and his life passions and the way that he is 
valued in our community.
  I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the people closest to 
Larry--his family. He cares deeply for them. Larry and his wife Carol 
have two grown children and five grandchildren.
  Mr. President, I want to close with this observation. There are very 
few leaders who have brought our community together since September 11, 
2001, like Larry has. Larry has rallied Coloradans together literally 
to remember the heroes and victims of 9/11 and to rise up against the 
evils of terrorism. It is what he does best: He assembles diverse 
groups of people, finds their commonality, and marshals them toward a 
noble purpose. Larry cares greatly about the security of the United 
States, as well as our allies worldwide. And he will stop at nothing to 
try to create a world where people do not live under the constant 
threat of attack, whether by persecutors, terrorists, or other enemies.
  Today Colorado thanks a great American--Larry A. Mizel--for a 
lifetime of good work--and many more years to come. Happy 70th 
birthday, Larry.

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