[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4684-4685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING GEORGE DEAN CARDEN'S 60TH BIRTHDAY

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th birthday of 
George Dean Carden, a man from southwest Missouri who went from humble 
beginnings to becoming the

[[Page 4685]]

largest producer of Shrine Circuses in the country.
  George Carden was born on March 19, 1952 in Springfield, Missouri. It 
was in Springfield he was raised, staying with his grandparents as his 
parents traveled the country working in a circus. After a few years his 
parents bought a circus of their own, but this time George came along. 
It wasn't too long before George started his own circus company--George 
Carden Circus International--in 1981. Eventually, he bought out his 
father's circus, combined the two, and after years of hard work became 
one of the largest circus producers in North America. In fact, George 
and his father have produced the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Circus for 
almost fifty years.
  The circus is usually a family affair and the Cardens are no 
different. George's wife, Alexandra, is also involved with the circus, 
as are his two sons, Larry and Brett Carden. George also has a 
daughter, Michelle, and two grandsons, George Brett and Cash Carden. 
Working in the circus means a life on the road, but when it comes time 
to relax, George and his family spend their time on their 800-acre 
ranch in Hickory County, Missouri, enjoying deer hunting and fishing.
  Giving back to the community is also important to George. He is a 
lifetime member of Abou Ben Adhem Shriners and is very active in the 
Shriner community, even financially supporting renovations to the 
Shrine Mosque. George also has a soft spot for children and has taken 
care of over 100,000 special and needy children over the past thirty 
years. For his service, George has become honorary member of many 
Shrine Temples.
  Mr. Speaker, George is a great man and I am privileged to honor him 
on his 60th birthday.

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