S6264 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 12, 2012 

years has been exceptional. It is inspiring to know that entrepreneurs such as 

Mr. LaCasse continue to draw upon 

their passion, ingenuity, and energy to 

develop new businesses. I extend my 

congratulations to Jesse LaCasse for 

his tremendous effort and offer my best 

wishes for the continued growth and 

success for LaCasse Bat Company.

f 

∑ 

SERVICES CENTER FEDERAL 

CREDIT UNION 

∑ Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I 

recognize the Services Center Federal 

Credit Union, SCFCU, a memberowned, not-for-profit financial cooperative located in Yankton, Springfield, 

and Parkston, SD. 

Chartered on April 2, 1962, this year 

marks the 50th anniversary of the 

SCFCU. As a community charter, 

membership is open to all who live or 

work in Bon Homme or Yankton Counties. Building upon their mission of 

being responsive to their members’ 

needs by providing competitive financial services, their membership has 

grown to nearly 6,500 Bon Homme and 

Yankton County residents. 

As a credit union member myself, I 

understand firsthand the benefit of a 

credit union membership. Credit 

unions are a part of the community 

and they are well aware of the specific 

needs of their members. Their commitment to providing the best possible 

service is commendable, especially in 

the financial environment we are faced 

with today. 

The SCFCU commemorated their 

50th anniversary during their annual 

meeting held in Yankton, SD, on June 

23, 2012. I would like to offer my congratulations to the leaders and membership of the SCFCU on this milestone 

anniversary and wish them continued 

prosperity in the years to come.

f 

∑ 

TRIBUTE TO LARRY MIZEL 

∑ Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 

great Coloradan—Larry A. Mizel—on 

the occasion of his 70th birthday on 

September 14. 

There are few Coloradans who embody the spirit of the Centennial State 

as well as my friend Larry, and it is a 

privilege today for me to be able to 

share my thoughts about him with my 

Senate colleagues. 

Larry is many things to many people, but at root, I think of Larry as an 

independent thinker; a savvy businessman; a man who cares about the world, 

his community and his family; and a 

man whose philanthropic reach is as 

wide as the Rocky Mountains are tall. 

I ask my colleagues to indulge me 

while I talk a bit about Larry and recount some of his most notable accomplishments. The list is long, but his 

work stands as a model for others. 

Larry always has believed in the 

value of a good education, and his own 

educational history is impressive. He 

graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 

business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1964, and 3 

years later, Larry received his law degree from the esteemed University of 

Denver College of Law. 

From there, Larry took off at warp 

speed. 

In 1972, Larry founded the company 

that became M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., 

which is one of the Nation’s top homebuilders. MDC is the parent corporation to Richmond American Homes and 

is a New York Stock Exchange-listed 

company. 

Forty years after founding M.D.C., 

Larry still serves as chairman and 

chief executive officer of the company. 

That is an amazing run, with a lot 

more to come, I hope and predict. 

Under Larry’s visionary leadership, 

M.D.C. consistently has maintained 

one of the strongest financial positions 

in the industry. 

But it is not just profits that distinguish M.D.C. M.D.C. also is known for 

its high-quality work. For example, 

M.D.C. has the distinction of being one 

of the few homebuilding-based companies to receive an investment-grade 

rating from all three rating agencies. 

Larry has never been one to rest on 

his laurels. In addition to M.D.C., he 

has pursued other business ventures. 

Larry was a founder and, until 1996 

chairman of the board of Asset Investors Corporation, a New York Stock 

Exchange-listed real estate investment 

trust, as well as of Commercial Assets 

Inc., a real estate investment trust 

that traded on the American Stock Exchange. In addition, Larry served as 

chairman of the board of directors of 

Omnibank, a multi-bank holding company, until its sale to KeyCorp in 1995. 

Yet, Larry is known in Colorado for 

more than these business-world accomplishments, as impressive as they are. 

Larry stands as a shining example to 

Coloradans about how to enrich the 

communities in which we live and to 

give voice to those who sometimes cannot speak loudly enough for themselves. 

Larry has been actively involved in 

numerous charitable, religious, and 

community causes, some that reach beyond our borders. 

For example, there are few leaders in 

Colorado who care as deeply as Larry 

does about issues related to Israel and 

to Jews around the world. Larry is a 

member of the national board of directors of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee better known as 

AIPAC which works to ensure a strong 

United States-Israel relationship. 

Larry also is one of the founders of 

the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international human rights organization, 

based in Los Angeles, CA. He has 

served as the International Chairman 

of the board of trustees of the 

Wiesenthal Center since 2003. As most 

of us know, the Wiesenthal Center 

helps to accomplish goals that Larry 

holds dear—namely, promoting tolerance and combating racism and antiSemitism around the world. 

It bears noting that the educational 

arm of the Wiesenthal Center—the Museum of Tolerance—is a recipient of 

the 2004 Tolerance Award given at the 

United Nations. It is a world-class 

human rights laboratory and learning 

center dedicated to challenging visitors to confront important contemporary issues. 

Closer to home, Larry also founded 

the Mizel Arts and Culture Center— 

known as the MACC—located in Denver 

at the Jewish Community Center. The 

MACC aims to illuminate the human 

experience through performing, visual, 

and literary arts for the Jewish community and the community at large. 

Larry’s interests and expertise in 

international affairs extend far. For example, he is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent organization dedicated to finding solutions to the challenging foreign 

policy choices facing the United States 

and other countries—choices made all 

the more challenging after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

Thankfully, Larry has brought his 

business acumen into the public policy 

arena. For example, in 1986 Larry 

founded and served as the inaugural 

chairman of Colorado Concern, an organization committed to promoting 

sustainable business growth and advancing the economic well-being of 

Colorado. I am privileged to work 

closely with Colorado Concern, especially in these tough economic times, 

when we are all searching for innovative ways to get our Nation back on 

sounder economic footing. 

Larry also is a founding member of 

the Denver Rustlers, a group that has 

given him the opportunity to work 

with other Colorado business leaders to 

support community youth. As with 

Colorado Concern, I have been fortunate to participate in events with the 

Denver Rustlers. From raising scholarship money, to supporting participants 

at the Junior Livestock Sale at the annual Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, to 

opening the Denver Rustlers Kids Cafe 

in 1994 to combat childhood hunger, 

Larry has been instrumental in the 

Denver Rustlers’ positive effect on 

children’s lives. 

I also want to take a moment to underline another great love of Larry’s— 

another pursuit that fills Coloradans 

with pride. Larry is the founder of the 

Mizel Museum in Denver. The Mizel 

Museum provides regular artistic and 

educational programs that promote 

community understanding and tolerance for residents of the Rocky Mountain region. It is a stunning facility 

that makes a big difference in our 

state. 

As part of the Mizel Museum and its 

related Mizel Institute, in 2004 Larry 

founded another crown jewel: the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab, 

better known as the CELL. The CELL 

is a nonprofit institution dedicated to 

the prevention of terrorism through 

education. Located in Denver, the 

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September 12, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6265 

CELL’s exhibit was developed in consultation with world-renowned thought 

leaders and award-winning artists. 

As Larry points out, it is the only exhibit of its kind in the world and has 

evolved into a greater institute for terrorism prevention and preparedness 

training. Through its acclaimed exhibits, distinguished speakers series, and 

training programs, the CELL has impacted thousands of individuals and 

has helped to enhance our public safety. Many Members of this Chamber 

have visited the CELL and have witnessed firsthand the power of its dynamic programs and interactive exhibits. 

In early 2012, I was proud to colead, 

with Larry and the CELL, a public 

event that examined our Nation’s foreign policy challenges 10 years after 

the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is a testament to Larry that the event was able 

to attract a broad range of top national 

security experts, Members of Congress, 

policymakers, the media, and members 

of the public. 

Over the years, many acclaimed organizations have recognized Larry’s 

work and his philanthropy. I want to 

name some of the honors that he has 

received. 

In 1987, Larry received the National 

Humanitarian Award from National 

Jewish Health, a global leader in the 

research and treatment of respiratory, 

immune and related diseases. 

In 1996, Larry was named honorary 

dean of the University of Denver’s 

Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management. 

In 2001, he was one of the recipients 

of the distinguished Ellis Island Medal 

of Honor, which gives tribute to the 

immigrant experience and individual 

achievement. 

In 2002, Larry was awarded the title 

Honorary Irishman by the Ancient 

Order of Hiberians, a Catholic-IrishAmerican Fraternal Organization 

founded in 1836, for his work supporting 

the Heroes of 9/11. 

In 2005, Larry received the Defenders 

of Freedom Award from the National 

Homeland Defense Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to securing freedom in the fields of homeland 

defense and security. 

In 2010, he was awarded the Ben S. 

Wendelken Special Trustees’ Award by 

Colorado’s El Pomar Foundation, for 

embodying the spirit of service and 

giving through his life’s work. 

And in 2011, Larry received the Steve 

Ross Lifetime Achievement Award 

from the Milken Institute and was 

named a Colorado State Patrol Honorary Colonel. 

I could go on and on, but I think 

these examples help illustrate the 

scope of Larry’s work and his life passions and the way that he is valued in 

our community. 

I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the people closest to Larry—his 

family. He cares deeply for them. Larry 

and his wife Carol have two grown children and five grandchildren. 

Mr. President, I want to close with 

this observation. There are very few 

leaders who have brought our community together since September 11, 2001, 

like Larry has. Larry has rallied Coloradans together literally to remember 

the heroes and victims of 9/11 and to 

rise up against the evils of terrorism. 

It is what he does best: He assembles 

diverse groups of people, finds their 

commonality, and marshals them toward a noble purpose. Larry cares 

greatly about the security of the 

United States, as well as our allies 

worldwide. And he will stop at nothing 

to try to create a world where people 

do not live under the constant threat 

of attack, whether by persecutors, terrorists, or other enemies. 

Today Colorado thanks a great 

American—Larry A. Mizel—for a lifetime of good work—and many more 

years to come. Happy 70th birthday, 

Larry.∑ 

f 

HONORING FRANK WILLETO 

∑ Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. 

President, in the annals of our Nation’s 

military history, the Navajo Code 

Talkers will always be remembered. 

They were a small group of marines, 

but their impact was far beyond their 

numbers. Their skills were crucial to 

American victory in the Pacific during 

World War II. They turned their Native 

language into an unbreakable code, and 

wielded that power as a great force in 

securing Allied victory. 

Today, we mourn the loss of one of 

those heroic men. On June 23, Mr. 

Frank Chee Willeto died at his home in 

Pueblo Pintado, NM. Mr. Willeto was 87 

years old. His life was a remarkable 

story of valor, of dedication, and of 

service. 

Mr. Willeto was born and raised in 

Crownpoint, NM. In January 1944 he enlisted with the U.S. Marines, 6th Division. He trained for 8 weeks as a Navajo Code Talker. He served in the Pacific Theater in the Saipan and Okinawa campaigns. 

Frank Willeto and his fellow Navajo 

Code Talkers joined a fight for freedom 

in a world that did not always accord 

freedom to them. They knew firsthand 

the ugly face of discrimination, of intolerance. U.S. law had recognized Native Americans as citizens for only 17 

years when our country entered World 

War II. 

And yet, many Native Americans 

bravely served during World War II, 

served at a higher percentage rate than 

the general population. And among 

them were Frank Willeto and the legendary Navajo Code Talkers. 

Mr. Willeto was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal. Our Nation is forever in debt to him and his fellow Navajo Code Talkers. But that is only part 

of his story. When he came home from 

war, he devoted his life to his community. He worked for many years with 

the Bureau of Indian Affairs and then 

with the Department of Education. 

In 1974, he was elected as a Navajo 

tribal councilman. He was later elected 

president of Pueblo Pintado Chapter. 

He also served as a judge on the Navajo 

Supreme Judicial Council and as vice 

president of the Navajo Nation. 

Last November, Mr. Willeto testified 

before the Senate Committee on Indian 

Affairs. He shared his experiences in 

the military, and he reminded us all 

how important it is that our veterans 

receive the benefits they were promised. He was a tireless advocate for 

housing and health benefits for veterans. Frank Willeto lived a long and 

productive life, and to the end he was 

steadfast in his efforts to help others. 

His was a life of service, of defending 

others in time of war, and serving others in times of peace. A life that is inspiring to all who knew him, and who 

mourn him now. We remember Frank 

Willeto, and we honor his legacy when 

we hold true to the ideals that he lived: 

honor, courage, commitment. I extend 

my sincere sympathies to Mr. Willeto’s 

family, to his many friends, and to his 

community.∑ 

f 

RECOGNIZING RICK BARTOW 

∑ Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today a 

part of the Pacific Northwest is coming 

to Washington, DC. Thanks to the immensely creative and dedicated work of 

artist Rick Bartow and his team, two 

wooden pole sculptures will be placed 

in the garden of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. 

Atop one pole sits a bear and the other 

pole a raven, representing the healer 

and the rascal, respectively. The Bear 

pole is 27 feet tall, and the Raven pole, 

23 feet tall. The poles—collectively titled ‘‘We Were Always Here’’—will face 

the Washington Monument and overlook the National Mall. 

The artist behind this project, Rick 

Bartow, is a Native American of Wiyot 

and Yurok heritage who was born in 

Newport, OR. His previous work has 

been shown throughout the world, including his Cedar Mill Pole, which was 

displayed at the White House in 1997. 

When you hear Mr. Bartow discuss his 

art, his process, and the world around 

him, you realize that you are listening 

to one of the country’s foremost artistic minds. 

That talent is clearly showcased in 

‘‘We Were Always Here.’’ The level of 

detail, history, and meaning in each 

pole is truly amazing. The poles are 

based on Native beliefs, but the message and meaning behind them are universal. For example, Mr. Bartow explains that the repeated horizontal patterns on each pole, ‘‘symbolize successive waves, generations following generations, an accumulation of wisdom 

and knowledge.’’ This idea that we can 

learn from our ancestors and from history is critical to the progress of our 

Nation and is one that is beautifully 

captured through these sculpture poles. 

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. 

Bartow and his team, folks visiting the 

Smithsonian National Museum of the 

American Indian or walking the National Mall will now be able to look 

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