[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12097-12098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
                            MR. THOMAS FRITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2015

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of 
Mr. Tom Fritz, who tragically passed away last week in a devastating 
fishing accident. A leader who helped to bring countless jobs and 
collaborative healthcare to Eastern Washington, Tom was a pillar of 
strength and generosity in our Greater Spokane community and will be 
greatly missed.
  A beacon in our community, Tom tirelessly led Inland Northwest Health 
Services for the last 16 years before retiring last December. Founded 
as a joint venture of the area's largest hospitals and their parent 
companies, under his guidance, INHS grew to over 1,000 employees and 
brought in more than $200 million in gross revenues, becoming one of 
the region's largest employers and one of its most active businesses. 
Having the vision to partner with community entities, Tom led INHS to 
provide exemplary access to health services not only in Spokane but all 
across our country. He

[[Page 12098]]

drove their efforts through forward-thinking solutions, unique 
partnerships and innovative technologies. Tom's vision for INHS was to 
provide a collaborative approach to health care that is unlike any 
other.
  Tom had a heart of gold. He tirelessly advocated for programs and 
initiatives that benefited the community he loved. A tremendous leader, 
Tom will be remembered for his years of service to our community in 
Eastern Washington and for his commitment to INHS's collaborative 
mission. To those he worked with on a daily basis, he will forever be 
remembered as a great friend and colleague. Although Tom Fritz' passing 
has left many heavy hearts in Eastern Washington, the memory of this 
actively passionate and engaged individual has left a lasting impact on 
the lives of many back home in the Inland Northwest.
  Thank you, Tom, for your years of dedication and service to our 
community and state. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and 
friends during this difficult time.

                          ____________________