E1584 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 

species which is presently listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature 

as ‘‘near-threatened’’ in its indigenous Arctic 

and sub-Arctic environment. In June 2012, the 

aquarium applied for a permit to import 18 

beluga whales to the United States with the 

purpose of conducting research which must be 

done in human care, for the continued edification of aquarium guests, and to secure the 

sustainability of the population in North American zoological parks and aquariums. Applying 

this important research can help the scientific 

community better understand the growing 

problems beluga whales face in their natural 

habitats. This application is corroborated by a 

five-year research study, authenticated by the 

International Union for the Conservation of Nature, validating that the acquisition of beluga 

whales will have no damaging impact to the 

beluga population of origin. 

Mr. Speaker, the extraordinary work the 

Georgia Aquarium has done in pursuing research and educating citizens is highly commendable. The aquarium’s recent efforts to 

study beluga whales will undoubtedly improve 

our scientific understanding of this threatened 

species. Therefore, I enthusiastically support 

Georgia Aquarium in its endeavor to increase 

the North American beluga population to help 

to maintain a sustainable population of whales 

in human care in certified facilities. 

f 

COMMEMORATING NORTHWESTERN 

COLLEGE’S 110TH ANNIVERSARY 

HON. JUDY BIGGERT OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize Northwestern College, which is 

celebrating its 110th year of preparing America’s students for success. 

Since 1902, Northwestern College has honored the goals of its founder, J.F. Fish, to create employment opportunities by providing career-focused education. This distinguished institution is accredited by the Higher Learning 

Commission as well as several programmatic 

agencies, and it operates three outstanding 

campuses in the greater Chicago area, serving more than 2,100 students. 

Offering Associate degrees in health 

sciences, legal studies, commerce and technology, and nursing—Northwestern College 

prepares students for a rewarding career in 

their chosen fields. 

I am pleased to congratulate Northwestern 

College on its 110th Anniversary, and for its 

ongoing commitment to educating students in 

Chicago and around the country. 

f 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF VICTOR 

CASCIO 

HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER OF LOUISIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to honor the life of Mr. Victor Cascio, Sr. His 

warmhearted connection with those who were 

fortunate to know him and his steadfast involvement in the Monroe, La. community will 

always be remembered. 

Throughout his lifetime, Victor was a vibrant 

presence in the area. He won the hearts of 

many as a child star on KNOE–TV’s ‘‘Happiness Exchange,’’ and his family has graced 

Monroe with their superb ability as restaurateurs since World War II. The family venture began with his late mother Josephine’s 

‘‘Spaghetti Garden’’ and culminating with The 

Chateau, a Louisville Avenue institution, where 

Victor hosted such celebrities as Liberace, 

Elvis, Donna Douglas of Elly May Clampett 

fame, Danny Thomas, and every Louisiana 

Governor from Big John McKeithen to Bobby 

Jindal. 

Much of Victor’s life was spent in the public 

eye as a phenomenal host, friend, and role 

model for all, and when he finally closed the 

doors of The Chateau amid an outpouring of 

support in March of this year, it was with the 

goal of savoring a private life with his wife of 

50 years, Marie. 

Undeniably, the mark he made on our community will never fade. He had a gift for putting people at ease and creating an atmosphere that is not easily duplicated. In the letter 

of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy, (2 Timothy 2:8–13), Paul says ‘‘If we have died with 

him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall also reign with him.’’ As we 

fondly remember the life and accomplishments 

of Victor, he lived in the faith in which he believed. 

To say that he left his fingerprint on the 

world would be an understatement. Victor 

Cascio brought joy to so many, and he will live 

in our hearts forever. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO BARNEY UHART 

HON. DON YOUNG OF ALASKA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to pay tribute to a great American and 

a great Alaskan. Barney Uhart, a devoted father and President Emeritus of Chugach Alaska Corporation, passed away on Saturday, 

September 8th after a lengthy battle with cancer. 

Barney’s career with Chugach Alaska Corporation began in 1993, and in 2000, he became President and CEO. During his tenure, 

the company grew phenomenally, rising in revenue from $19 million in 1993 to over $1 billion in 2009. He was not only a charismatic 

leader and hard worker, but a close friend to 

many who worked with him over the years. 

His hard work and total commitment helped 

provide real, tangible, and ongoing benefits to 

the Native Shareholders of Chugach as he 

strove tirelessly to help fulfill the promises of 

the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. His 

contributions to making the SBA 8(a) program 

a resounding success, not only for Chugach, 

but for all Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, 

and Native American Tribes, are truly outstanding, and we are all grateful to him for his 

achievements. 

On July 6, 2012, Barney announced his retirement from Chugach to focus on his health 

and spend time with his family. The Board of 

Directors of Chugach Alaska Corporation appointed Barney ‘‘President Emeritus’’ in honor 

of his 19 years of service, dedication, and 

leadership. 

Barney’s career with Chugach began when 

he joined Chugach Development Corporation 

(CDC) as Operations Manager. With a background in Engineering and Business Administration, his project experience in managing 

Base Operation Services (BOS) contracts in 

extremely remote locations began 33 years 

ago when he went to work on his first BOS 

contract in 1979 on Wake Island. 

Barney told of his Wake Island initiation by 

saying, ‘‘I was living in Hawaii and one day I 

was helping a friend deliver office furniture to 

a place called Kentron International. I had no 

idea what they did, but it sounded like an exotic and exciting place to work where you 

would get to travel. The next day I put together a resume and slid it under the door. 

Then I had an interview, and after about 45 

minutes, I thought the interview was over and 

I got up to leave when the manager said, 

‘When can you leave?’ The following Tuesday 

I was on a plane to Wake Island in the midPacific and I still didn’t know what Kentron 

International did.’’ Clearly, Barney never shied 

away from a new opportunity. 

Born in Fresno, California in 1952, Barney 

moved to Hawaii in 1970 after high school and 

his father’s passing. During this time, the Vietnam War was still raging. Barney’s brother 

had already done two tours in Vietnam, and 

he expected to be drafted at any time. Regardless, he enrolled in the University of Hawaii and played baseball. Barney then worked 

general construction until he decided it wasn’t 

the area he wanted to pursue, and instead 

seized opportunity by the hand when he went 

to Wake on his first federal contract job. 

In 1985 Barney spent a winter in Greenland 

on the Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line 

and was then offered a job as Superintendent 

of Administration for the DEW line, but declined because he didn’t want to spend another year in the Arctic. As a result, he left to 

work for his first SBA 8(a) company in Hampton, Virginia where he helped grow the company in revenue from $200,000 to $6 million a 

year. 

In early 1988, Barney was offered a job with 

an SBA 8(a) company in Louisville, Kentucky, 

and was promoted to Vice-President of Operations. He moved into the Company’s new offices in Panama City, Florida. Later, he received a call from Mike Brown (Chugach’s 

President and CEO from 1992 to 1999) who 

was working at that time for PMC, a subsidiary 

of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. 

Mr. Brown received Barney’s name from 

someone who worked with him at Wake Island 

years before. Based on that recommendation, 

Mike wanted Barney to become the BOS contract Project Manager at Amchitka Island, on 

the Aleutian Chain. Not wanting to move to 

Amchitka Island, Barney declined the offer and 

went back to Florida. Five months later, Mr. 

Brown called him again and offered him a job 

as Manager of Special Projects in Anchorage. 

Years later, Barney recalled with a laugh, 

‘‘This time the position was in Anchorage, so 

I accepted, and one of the first jobs as Manager of Special Projects in Anchorage was to 

go out to Amchitka Island and evaluate the 

contract. So he kinda suckered me in with that 

one.’’ 

While at PMC, the team he worked with received a Coast Guard contract, the Wake Island contract, and the contract to run Midway 

Island. By then he was Vice-President of Operations for PMC, when Mr. Brown, who had 


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