IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 457

Honoring Rick Lee Schwartz and Milt Stollak, who died in a plane crash

on July 18, 2002, while fighting the Big Elk fires near Estes Park, Colorado.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 26, 2002

Mr. SCHAFFER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Government Reform

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Honoring Rick Lee Schwartz and Milt Stollak, who died

in a plane crash on July 18, 2002, while fighting the

Big Elk fires near Estes Park, Colorado.

Whereas Rick Lee Schwartz was born in Choteau, Montana,

was raised in Cascade, Conrad, and Fairfield, Montana,

and attended the Emery School of Aviation in Greeley,

Colorado;

Whereas Mr. Schwartz was the loving father of two stepchildren with his former wife, Brenda Cook, and the newlywed husband of Liz Schwartz, who is expecting their

child in November of this year;

Whereas Mr. Schwartz was a life member of the Masonic

Lodge and Eastern Star in Lewistown, Montana, and

was working as a pilot for Hawkins and Powers Aviation,

Inc. at the time of his death;
2

•HCON 457 IH

Whereas Mr. Schwartz was tragically killed in a plane crash

on July 18, 2002, while fighting the Big Elk fires near

Estes Park, Colorado;

Whereas Mr. Schwartz is survived, among others, by his wife,

Liz Schwartz; his father and stepmother, Stew and

Delores Schwartz; his mother, Shirley Cheek; his two

brothers, Jim and Scott Schwartz; and a baby due in November;

Whereas Milt Stollak was born in Los Angeles, California;

Whereas Mr. Stollak also died in the aforementioned plane

crash, and was, at the time, still working with Hawkins

and Powers Aviation, Inc., even though his contract with

them had already expired, due to the desperate need for

pilots able to perform firefighting duties;

Whereas Mr. Stollak is survived by his wife, Shannon

Brumley; his daughter, Brandi Stollak; and his sister,

Tina Craddock;

Whereas Clear Channel of Northern Colorado is gathering

funds to erect a memorial to the sacrifices of Mr.

Schwartz and Mr. Stollak, pilots of the Air Tanker 123

who gave their lives to protect others and America’s forests;

Whereas firefighters across the Nation risk their lives and

put themselves in harm’s way everyday in order to protect life and property;

Whereas, in this year alone, 11 firefighters have died while

fighting forest fires; and

Whereas the American public owes this Nation’s firefighters

a tremendous debt of gratitude: Now, therefore, be it
3

•HCON 457 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the Congress honors the late Rick Lee

4 Schwartz and Milt Stollak, recognizing that they

5 were truly remarkable Americans who exemplified

6 the gallantry, honor, duty, virtue, and determination

7 held in such high esteem by the people of this Na8 tion; and

9 (2) it is the sense of the Congress that—

10 (A) the people of this Nation should honor,

11 celebrate, and remember Rick Lee Schwartz’s

12 and Milt Stollak’s extraordinary bravery and

13 service;

14 (B) the President should take appropriate

15 measures to encourage efforts to honor, cele16 brate, and remember Rick Lee Schwartz’s and

17 Milt Stollak’s extraordinary service to the

18 United States, and to commemorate the con19 tributions and service of all firefighters to the

20 people of this Nation; and

21 (C) individuals are encouraged to con22 tribute to the Air Tanker 123 Memorial Fund

23 honoring Rick Lee Schwartz and Milt Stollak.

Æ