[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THOMAS ANTHONY THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2016

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Lake 
Elsinore, California are exceptional. On Saturday, January 23, 2016, 
Tom Thomas received the Citizen of the Year award from the Lake 
Elsinore Chamber of Commerce.
  Tom was born and raised just over the Cleveland National Forest in 
Orange County, where he graduated from Newport Harbor High School. 
After high school, Tom earned his Associate Degree from Orange Coast 
College and then attended Cal-State Fullerton before he became 
interested in working at the TV studios of Newport Cablevision. That 
job was the start of a lifelong attraction to the cable television 
business and a career that would take Tom to Alaska, New York and all 
around the country. Tom eventually planted his roots in Lake Elsinore 
and ended up living at the ``ranch'' on the Ortega's along with his 
wife, Dee. Tom and Dee have been married for 33 years and their adult 
son, Matt, currently resides in Sacramento.
  In Lake Elsinore, Tom dedicated himself to the community by serving 
multiple years on the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce Board, 
including two terms as President, as well as almost 15 years with the 
Lake Elsinore Rotary Club, where he also served twice as President. Tom 
has served on the Lake Elsinore Unified School District Board of 
Trustees since 2004 and as Executive Director of Cops for Kids at the 
Lake Elsinore Sheriff's station. In recognition of his selfless service 
to his community, Tom has been recognized with many awards, including 
the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce John Packman Memorial 
Award Winner in 1988, and being named the Boy Scouts Distinguished 
Citizen in 2007.
  In light of all that Tom Thomas has done for the community of Lake 
Elsinore, Riverside County and the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce, 
it is only fitting to name him as Citizen of the Year. Through his 
involvement and dedication, Tom has contributed immensely to the 
betterment of our community. On behalf of the 42nd Congressional 
District, I want to express my appreciation and pride in Tom on this 
special occasion. I add my voice to the many who paid tribute to Tom 
for receiving the Citizen of the Year award from the Lake Elsinore 
Chamber of Commerce.

                          ____________________