EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

August 7, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1447 

HONORING ROBERT E. RUCKER, 

JR., ON HIS PROMOTION TO BATTALION CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF 

SCOTTSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT 

HON. DAVID SCHWEIKERT 

OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 

Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today with the Honorable JEFF DENHAM to congratulate and honor Robert E. Rucker, Jr., on 

his promotion to Battalion Chief for the City of 

Scottsdale Fire Department. 

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, 

Bobby Rucker, Jr., pursued a career in fire 

service. In 1988, he started his career with the 

Rural Metro Corporation. He attended the 

academy of 88–01, receiving the award for 

Outstanding Cadet Firefighter as selected by 

Fellow Cadets. His training was immediately 

followed with a trip to Yellowstone to participate in one of the largest forest fires in American history. Robert served as a PT instructor 

for 92–01 and 97–02 academies, as well as a 

Reserve Coordinator for 3 years. During his 

17 years with Rural/Metro, he served as a 

Firefighter, Lieutenant, and Captain before 

being hired by the City of Scottsdale in 2005. 

Prior to his promotion to Battalion Chief, he 

worked as a Captain on engine 602 in downtown Scottsdale. He was temporarily reassigned as a Recruit Training Officer for Academy 08–01 and again recently for Academy 

12–01. Robert has been an active member on 

the deployment team, safety team, EMS team, 

facilities team, and training team. 

Battalion Chief Rucker was a recipient of 

the 2009 City Manager’s Award of Excellence 

in recognition of the Police/Fire group ability to 

Collaborate as a Team and was nominated in 

2007 for Fire Captain of the Year at the Firefighter’s Choice Awards. In addition, he has 

received commendations for the 1988 Yellowstone Fire and the 1995 Rio Fire. 

Bobby’s formal education consists of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire 

Science from Scottsdale Community College 

and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Services Administration, Magna Cum 

Laude from Northern Arizona University. 

During his career, Bobby has always had 

the loving support of his wife Toni, son Trevor, 

daughter Morgan, his father, Bob Rucker, Sr., 

and step-mother Micki, his mother, Cathy Hoff 

and her husband Bob, his sister Sharon 

Rucker, and step-brother Brian Hoff. 

Mr. Speaker, please join us in honoring and 

commending the outstanding contributions 

made to fire safety by Battalion Chief Bob E. 

Rucker, Jr., and hereby wish him continued 

success in his career. 

HONORING AMERICAN OLYMPIAN 

KIM RHODE 

HON. MIKE THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, 

I along with Representative CHU rise today in 

honor and celebration of American Olympian 

Kim Rhode, who became the first American to 

earn an individual medal in five straight Olympic Games following her gold-medal performance on July 29 in the women’s skeet shooting event in London. 

A native of California, Rhode has been competing in trap and skeet shooting events since 

she was a child. She won a gold medal in her 

first Olympics as a teenager—in the 1996 Atlanta Games—and has since earned bronze in 

Sydney (2000) and gold in Athens (2004), all 

in the trap event. She also won a silver medal 

in the 2008 Beijing skeet competition. This accomplishment makes her just the 8th U.S. 

woman Olympian to have won at least five 

medals in individual competitions. 

With her near-perfect score, Rhode set an 

Olympic record last Sunday, hitting 99 of a 

possible 100 targets, tying the highest mark 

ever achieved in skeet-style competition. She 

scored perfect 25-of-25 figures in the first two 

rounds of competition, ending her streak at 65 

made shots when she had her first and only 

miss in the third round. Rhode closed out the 

final round with another perfect 25, finishing 

eight shots ahead of the first runner-up. 

A model athlete and competitor, Rhode’s 

consistency and persistence have defined her 

career and its success. Though she remains a 

tough competitor at age 33, Rhode has stayed 

family-oriented and remarkably balanced for 

an athlete of her caliber. She shoots for fun 

with her husband, Mike Harryman, and her 

principal coach and trainer is still her father, 

Richard; her mother, Sharon, helps to manage 

a schedule filled with sponsorship obligations 

and speaking engagements. Despite all her 

successes, those closest to Rhode say she remains passionate about the sport for the best 

of reasons—her own personal enjoyment. 

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time 

that we congratulate and praise Kim Rhode’s 

accomplishments thus far, and wish her the 

best in future competitions. She is a rolemodel for young athletes in America and 

across the globe, and she is deserving of our 

most honorable recognition. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. TOM GRAVES OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on 

rollcall No. 539, on the District of Columbia 

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act 

(H.R. 3803), I am not recorded. Had I been 

present, I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ 

f 

HONORING SERGEANT FIRST 

CLASS BARETT W. MCNABB 

HON. JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise today to honor a fallen soldier who died 

in military service to this country. This true 

American hero, Sergeant First Class Barett W. 

McNabb, was stationed in Washington state 

and he and his family lived in my home district 

in Southwest Washington prior to his final deployment. Sergeant First Class McNabb died 

on June 12, 2012, from wounds he suffered 

from an improvised explosive device while 

serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. 

Sergeant First Class McNabb was on his 

fourth overseas deployment, previously serving in Kuwait and twice in Iraq. He entered the 

Army in 1999, and since that time earned several awards and commendations including four 

Army Commendations including an Army 

Commendation with Valor, three Army 

Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service 

Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, 

an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a 

Bronze Service Star, an Iraq Campaign Medal 

with a Bronze Service Star, four Global War 

on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global 

War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, three Army Service Ribbon 

Overseas Service Ribbons, and a NATO 

Medal. 

SFC McNabb was also posthumously 

awarded a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious 

Service Medal, a Combat Action Badge, and a 

Purple Heart. 

SFC McNabb wore his uniform with great 

honor in defense of his country, but he was 

also a son, a husband, and a father. He was 

remembered as an inspirational leader; a trait 

he no doubt began to learn while playing varsity football at Chino Valley High School while 

growing up in Arizona, and further developed 

during thirteen years of loyal service to his 

country. 

The thousands of men and women who 

serve in our military must each day make the 

difficult choice to put themselves in harm’s 

way. But SFC McNabb and those other brave 

soldiers stationed around the world do so to 

protect our great country, this place that has 

been an enduring symbol of hope and democracy for more than 200 years. 

Today, I ask all Members of Congress to 

join me as we honor the life and legacy of 

Sergeant First Class Barett W. McNabb, and 

the other Americans in our Armed Forces who 

are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for 

their country. Our words are not enough to express the gratitude they have earned. 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS