[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                          DALE SOWARDS TRIBUTE

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                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2013

  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dale Sowards of 
Manassa, Colorado. Mr. Sowards passed away on March 29, 2013 at his 
home, he was 95. A native and lifelong resident of Western Colorado, 
Mr. Sowards' story is one of public service and community involvement 
that lives on as an inspiration to us all.
   Born in Manassa on May 7, 1917, Mr. Sowards went on to receive a 
degree in Forestry and Range Management from Colorado State University 
and on Christmas Eve of 1937, he married his high school sweetheart 
Orva Nielson. Following college, Mr. Sowards spent five years serving 
Colorado with the U.S. Forest Service. He went on to teach biology, 
chemistry, and agriculture in Manassa and later taught the farm 
training program at Adams State College.
   Mr. Sowards' life in civil service began as a member of the Manassa 
school board, he later served the President of the Cumbres-La Manga 
Cattle Association and the Manassa Land and Irrigation Company for 16 
years. Mr. Sowards went on to become County Commissioner and, in 1976, 
was chosen as the Most Outstanding Colorado Commissioner. That same 
year, he was elected President of the National Association of Counties' 
Western Region (NaCO). As a NaCO President, Mr. Sowards played a 
pivotal role in the passage of Payments-In-Lieu-of-Taxes, or PILT, 
legislation which compensates counties for the tax revenue lost by 
federal holdings of land. Counties use these funds for education, 
public safety, and infrastructure projects. In recognition of his 
efforts, NaCo's annual award for outstanding service of public lands 
bears his name.
   Mr. Sowards was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints and served as Superintendent of the Sunday school 
late in his life. He is survived by two children in Manassa, 10 
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor 
to recognize Mr. Dale Sowards for his lifelong dedication to the people 
of Western Colorado.

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