[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2258]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE ALVIN BALDUS FOR HIS LIFE OF SERVICE 
IN THE U.S. CONGRESS, WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE, AND ARMED FORCES OF 
                           THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2017

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished life 
of Alvin Baldus, who passed away on February 2, 2017 at the age of 90 
in Menomonie, Wisconsin. An honorable veteran, public servant, and 
friend, Al's service to this country is an inspiration to not only the 
state of Wisconsin but anyone who aspires to be in public service. I 
had the distinct honor to get to know Al and his wonderful family and 
am proud to have modeled my public service career after Al's civil and 
accessible nature.
  Born in Garner, Iowa, Al graduated from Elkton High School in 
Minnesota, attended Austin Junior College in Austin, Minnesota, and 
served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II from 1944 
through 1946. During the Korean War, Al again answered the call to 
serve his country in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Infantry Division from 
1951 through 1953, receiving the Bronze Service Star medal for his 
bravery and courage, which included action in the Battle of Old Baldy.
  In 1959, Al married the love of his life, Anna Lorayne ``Lolly'' 
Reiten and the two of them began to raise their family in Menomonie, 
Wisconsin. Soon after in 1966, Al's community elected him to the 
Wisconsin State Assembly. For eight years, Al served Dunn County with 
integrity. For Al, this was just the beginning.
  Al not only served his fellow Wisconsinites in the State Assembly, 
but he also represented the voices of the Third Congressional District 
in this body, the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1974 through 1980 
during the 94th, 95th, and 96th Congresses. Al spent his years in the 
House as a strong voice for agriculture fighting for legislation that 
promoted environmental conservation, agricultural safety, and milk 
price supports. Al used his leadership as the chairman of the Dairy and 
Poultry Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee to fight for 
farmers in the U.S. Congress. In 1989 Al's strong commitment to serving 
his community convinced him to resume his lifelong joy of public 
service in the Wisconsin State Assembly until his retirement in 1997.
  I vividly remember meeting with Al, Lolly and his children with my 
wife Tawni to talk about my future as a Congressional Representative. 
They graciously welcomed us into their home, and I was struck by how 
well behaved and kind his children were. As our visit went on, I grew 
to understand that everything about Al and Lolly was authentic and 
accessible.
  It has been an honor for me to serve in the same seat that Al held 
many years ago. On behalf of my family, Wisconsin and a grateful 
nation, I would like to thank and commend Al for his years of dedicated 
service. Al's colleagues remember him for being kind, gracious, civil, 
and approachable. May his legacy continue to live in this chamber and 
across the nation.

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