[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO VAUGHN THOMAS HAWKES

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I wish to honor Vaughn Thomas Hawkes 
on his 80th birthday. Vaughn is a native Idahoan whose family roots in 
the State go back generations. He is one of nine children born to a 
farm family outside of Preston, where he learned hard work and 
ingenuity are the keys to a good life. The work ethic he learned early 
on has served him well through his 80 years, but he had a spirit of 
adventure that was unusual for an Idaho farm boy. After he finished 
college at Utah State University and married his sweetheart of close to 
56 years, Frances Arlene Anderson, they embarked on a journey that took 
them to the tiny island territory of American Samoa, where he first 
taught high school chemistry, math, and physics, and then served as 
principal at Mapusaga High School. But perhaps some may think his 
greatest achievement during that time was that he was instrumental in 
introducing American football to the Samoan people--something many 
college and NFL teams have appreciated for many years now. An educator 
by training and inclination, Vaughn spent many years in administrative 
positions at the Blackfoot School District before finishing his career 
in the Provo School District where he retired.
  His devotion to his faith has been manifest in many ways, including 
missionary service throughout the world--first as a young missionary in 
western Canada; then in American Samoa; then in Milan, Italy; and most 
recently in Santa Monica, CA. His teaching nature has been evident far 
beyond his professional career, as he has been given the opportunity to 
educate through that missionary service. Upon his retirement from 
education several years ago, he had served in teaching positions at the 
LDS Missionary Training Center and the BYU-Idaho Pathways Program--ever 
searching to help those who are seeking improvement in their 
educational pursuits.
  His friends and neighbors know him as a tinkerer, a man who can fix 
anything. He maintains a world-class collection of tools and parts you 
never knew you were missing. He is the proud father of eight children--
Susan, Richard, Diane, Pamela, Cynthia, Daniel, John, and Scott. His 
eldest daughter, Susan, has worked for me for many years, and I have 
had the opportunity to get to know Vaughn on a personal level. While he 
may count them as his greatest achievements, each one of them is 
grateful for his influence and support in their lives. He taught them 
how to work, how to fight for what is right and fair, to value 
education and learning, to take the adventurous path, and to be 
faithful to the Lord. He has built a life of service and devotion to 
his family, friends, and faith and serves as a tremendous example of 
kindness and strength to all who know him.
  As a young farm boy, Vaughn had an opportunity to receive the 
Congressional Record every day through the mail. He was fascinated by 
all that transpired in Congress and read the documents studiously. It 
was only the beginning of a lifetime of curiosity about the world 
around him. So it seemed a fitting tribute to honor his 80th birthday 
to provide him with his own mention in that illustrious Record. We wish 
him a very happy 80th birthday.

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