[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO BOB FORD

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Bob Ford, who is 
retiring from Senate service. Bob is a valued, longtime member of my 
staff and dear friend.
  In September of 2002, Bob joined my staff as the State director for 
business, economic, and rural development. Bob, originally from the 
Sunny Slope area of Canyon County, brought to the position a profound 
knowledge of rural and economic development shaped by his service as 
the State manager of rural development for the Idaho Department of 
Commerce, where he worked for 17 years in various capacities.
  To say that Bob assisted me in a number of issue areas is an 
understatement. He has worked on far too many efforts to count. In 
addition to his work on rural and economic development issues, he has 
worked on initiatives related to housing, labor, trade, veterans, 
energy, banking, budget, taxes, immigration, water resources, 
transportation, and much more.
  Highlights of his contributions as a member of my staff include his 
successful work to stop the transfer of the terminal approach control 
radar, known as TRACON, from the Boise airport. Bob spent countless 
hours working with affected parties to build an overwhelming 
justification for retaining TRACON at the Boise airport. He also worked 
heavily on trying to restore a key Amtrak corridor between the Midwest, 
the Intermountain States, and the Pacific Northwest.
  As a fellow veteran, Bob has utilized his shared understanding of 
serving our Nation to connect with Idaho's veterans community and help 
improve veterans' access to quality services. He has attentively and 
efficiently administered the presenting of the Spirit of Freedom Award, 
which is an annual award to veterans and volunteers to recognize their 
great contributions to our armed services and veterans.
  Bob is pragmatic and witty. He brings his calm, commonsense approach 
to any task, and I will miss his logical counsel and good humor. Bob is 
so widely admired that there has been no shortage of Idahoans who have 
shared fond memories of times they have worked with Bob over the years 
and the achievements he has made for the people of our great State.
  Bob, you have done ``not bad for a kid who grew up on a farm in Sunny 
Slope on the banks of the Snake River.'' I hope that retirement will 
provide much-deserved time fishing, and that I will still get to 
benefit from your wise assistance from time to time. Thank you for your 
outstanding, committed service. Congratulations on your retirement. I 
wish you all the best.

                          ____________________