September 13, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1525 

has engaged in mobilizing and advocating for 

people who are LGBTQ, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning, and their 

friends, families, and supporters. 

Founded by the Reverend Jane Spahr in 

1982 as a support program for LGBT youth in 

Marin, Spectrum has grown under the leadership of current director Paula Pilecki. The 

agency now provides programs for seniors, 

counseling, advocacy, training, and public 

awareness and coordinates with organizations 

around the North Bay. This year, it launched 

the Spectrum LGBT Equality Pledge for businesses and professional organizations that 

want to show their support. 

Mr. Speaker, thanks to organizations like 

Spectrum LGBT Center, we have seen 

progress over the last 30 years in rights for 

LGBTQ individuals. There is still much work to 

do, and we will continue to rely on Spectrum 

until full equality is achieved. Congratulations 

to Paula Pilecki and the staff at Spectrum on 

their 30th anniversary. 

f 

HONORING ALBERT PERISHO 

HON. JANICE HAHN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Albert Perisho, who passed away at home 

peacefully on August 2012. Albert was born 

September 9, 1931 in Long Beach, California. 

Al graduated from Banning High School in 

1949 and then enlisted in the United States 

Marine Corps to serve in the Korean conflict. 

He met the love of his life, Myrt Van Meter, 

while working in Long Beach. Al and Myrt 

were married 59 years. In 1954, he became a 

member of the International Longshore and 

Warehouse Union. He served there until he 

retired in 1994. He was elected for 4 terms as 

President for Local 63 and 2 1⁄2 terms as Secretary Treasurer. 

While retired, he stayed active with the 

Southern California Pensioners Club and 

served as President. Al was recognized as 

Man of the Year by the City of Los Alamitos, 

the Los Angeles Long Beach Harbor, and the 

ILWU Southern California Pensioners Club. 

He was also a volunteer with the Red Cross 

disaster relief. 

Al loved fishing in the High Sierras and had 

a great sense of humor. He was the kind of 

friend everyone wanted. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is 

survived by his wife, Myrt; daughter, Cheri 

Phillips; son in law, Bill Phillips; son, Terry 

Perisho; daughter in law, Candy Perisho; son, 

Jack Perisho; daughter in law, Vanetta 

Perisho; grandchildren, Shaun, Christy, Jake, 

and Jacquie; and his brother, Tom Harvey. He 

was loved by all and will be missed dearly. 

f 

RECOGNIZING NESBY AND ASSOCIATES AS A FINALIST FOR THE 

2012 KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S 

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor and congratulate Nesby and Associates in Renton, Washington for being 

named a finalist for the 2012 King County Executive’s Small Business Awards, in the Minority Small Business of the Year category. 

Nesby and Associates is a development 

consulting firm that encourages consumers 

and companies to invest in diverse markets. 

The company succeeds by having a large clientele, ranging from the local to the national 

levels. 

The Minority Small Business of the Year 

award is only presented to extraordinary minority-owned businesses that have shown significant growth and contributions to the King 

County community. Currently, 13 percent of 

the businesses in the King County region are 

minority-owned and Nesby and Associates 

and many others make tremendous contributions to the region’s economic strength. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 

honor Nesby and Associates. The firm proudly 

represents the growing numbers of minorityowned businesses in our community and 

throughout our nation. 

f 

HONORING MIKE OGLE, DEDICATED SERVANT TO EASTERN 

WASHINGTON’S VETERANS 

HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS 

OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise today to honor Mike Ogle, a dedicated 

servant who spent countless hours assisting 

our Eastern Washington veterans at the 

While America’s service members and veterans have answered the call of duty and 

have served with dignity and honor, similarly 

Mike Ogle answered the call of duty to serve 

our veterans in Eastern Washington. A twentyfour year Air Force veteran, while working at 

the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center, Mike 

dutifully helped veterans by providing outreach, counseling, and resource referral. 

However, his story goes beyond simply 

wanting to help Eastern Washington’s veterans. Serving in the Air Force, Mike spent a 

great deal of time in the Middle East and was 

deployed for a combined total of nearly eight 

years. This experience enabled Mike to be 

one of the best advocates for veterans in 

Eastern Washington. Quite simply: Mike spoke 

their language and whenever he interacted 

with a veteran, the veteran knew that they had 

found a friend. 

Working at the Spokane Veteran Outreach 

Center, Mike Ogle spent most of his days traveling in a custom-fitted RV called the Mobile 

Vet Center. Through the Mobile Vet Center, 

Mike spoke to Eastern Washington’s veterans 

about housing, medical care, and employment 

opportunities. In addition, Mike diligently took 

time to generate a constructive game plan 

with each veteran he saw. More importantly, 

Mike made a point to follow up with each and 

every veteran that he met. 

So today, I am thankful for Mike Ogle’s selfless, energetic dedication to our veterans in 

Eastern Washington. 

HONORING THE CITY OF WESTON 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I 

proudly pause to recognize the City of Weston, Missouri, as the residents celebrate the 

175th anniversary of the founding of their 

community. 

Weston was a mid-nineteenth century Missouri River port community, the second largest 

port on the river, second only to St. Louis. In 

1850, over 300 steamboats a year docked at 

the Port of Weston. The population soared to 

5,000, surpassing both Kansas City and St. 

Joseph. Floods, fires, and the Civil War contributed to a decline in population, but not in 

spirit. In 1972, a major portion of the early 

town was designated an Historic District and 

placed on the National Register of Historic 

Places having retained a substantial portion of 

its early residences and commercial structures. Weston is a gem in the 6th Congressional District featuring antebellum homes, 

museums, walking tours, and a historic shopping district. Many of the antique, home furnishing, gift shops and restaurants are located 

in buildings built prior to the Civil War. 

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in 

celebrating with the City of Weston during 

their 175th anniversary festivities. 

f 

CELEBRATING GONZAGA 

UNIVERSITY 125TH ANNIVERSARY 

HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise today to congratulate Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington as it celebrates 

its 125th anniversary. I take great pride in representing this nationally-recognized institution 

of higher learning. 

In 1881, Father Joseph Cataldo, S.J., a Jesuit from the Rocky Mountain Mission, decided 

to establish a school for boys along the banks 

of the Spokane River. With $936 in silver dollars, Father Cataldo purchased 320 acres of 

land. Six years later, on September 17, 1887, 

Gonzaga College officially opened its doors 

serving 18 students. 

For the last 125 years, Gonzaga University 

has transformed itself to meet the educational 

needs of an expanding region. First in 1912, 

the School of Law was established to meet 

the Inland Northwest’s legal demands. Then in 

1921, the School of Business was formed to 

help bolster commerce with skilled business 

leaders. Seven years later the School of Education opened its doors to prepare teachers to 

meet the needs of a rapidly growing community. In 1934, when hydroelectricity was being 

developed as a new regional power source 

and engineers were needed to build dams, 

Gonzaga established a School of Engineering. 

And in 1975, the School of Professional Studies was created to educate health care professionals and prepare community leaders for the 

demands of the next century. 

Today, Gonzaga University is one of our nation’s premier institutions of higher learning, 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS