[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4825]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO ROSS ARAGON

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today we recognize the 
distinguished public service of Ross Aragon on the occasion of his 
retirement after serving 36 years as mayor of Pagosa Springs--the 
longest serving mayor in Colorado. Since taking office in 1978, Mayor 
Aragon has fulfilled his duties with passion, diligence, and honor. 
Over his more than three decades of service he has never missed a 
regular monthly scheduled meeting. For over a generation, the citizens 
of Pagosa Springs have known Ross Aragon as the best man for the job.
  Mayor Aragon's steadfast approach to city management led to many 
notable accomplishments, including improving the quality of police and 
fire protection, expanding the community's recreational programs and 
facilities, and establishing the town's popular river walk. He also 
spearheaded the development of the San Juan River's kayaking, rafting, 
and tubing features, improving the community for both residents and 
tourists alike.
  Of his many achievements, which are too many to list here, two 
projects in particular embody Mayor Aragon's approach to leadership 
more than most: his advocacy for local food produced using Pagosa 
Springs' geothermal resources was a clear demonstration of Mayor 
Aragon's ability to harness Pagosa's rich assets and translate them 
into a brighter future; and his successful efforts to designate Chimney 
Rock as a national monument exemplified the enthusiasm, dedication, and 
collaborative mindset Mayor Aragon brought to his job. Thanks to his 
leadership, an important part of Southwest Colorado's cultural heritage 
will forever be protected.
  On behalf of Pagosa Springs in particular and Southwest Colorado in 
general, thank you, Mayor Aragon, for your many years of public 
service. We wish you well in your retirement and we can't wait to see 
what challenges you tackle next.

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