November 19, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2255 

hollered out, ‘‘there is a very persistent woman 

on the phone who wants to talk to a JOE right 

now and she really means it’’. Joe Mendoza 

calmly looked at me and said ‘‘That call is for 

you!’’ I took the phone and guess whose ear 

Mrs. Scotty burned to a crisp! 

Joe and Scotty helped to organize the 

‘‘world famous’’ Western Weekend in Point 

Reyes Station that continues to this day with 

a wonderful 2 block long parade that circled 

through town at least twice so that it would 

last longer than 10 minutes. 

Joe had a great sense of humor and he 

loved a good story or a funny incident and 

when he really laughed he had a special little 

kick that just naturally happened. When you 

saw that extra little body language, you knew 

he was really enjoying himself. 

Joe loved to dance and he was very good 

at it. So to his delight many Tomatas including 

daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughters took turns sharing him with his very 

favorite Tomata and dance partner, his beloved ‘‘Scotty’’. 

My last thoughts today are of Joe and Scotty arm in arm dancing to one of their favorite 

country songs, being sung by Pam Nadale, a 

local country artist who passed on some time 

ago. The song in which I have changed just 

one word is ‘‘Waltz Across Texas’’. It goes like 

this . . . 

When we dance together my worlds in disguise 

It’s a fairyland tale that’s come true 

When you look at me with those stars in 

your eyes 

I could waltz across heaven with you 

Waltz across heaven with you in my arms 

Waltz across heaven with you 

Like a storybook ending I’m lost in your 

charms 

and I could waltz across heaven with you 

Waltz across heaven. . . . 

f 

IN HONOR OF ST. PAUL UNITED 

CHURCH OF CHRIST 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in honor of St. Paul United Church of 

Christ in Parma, Ohio on the occasion of its 

one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and in 

recognition of its dedication to education, the 

community, and to God. 

St. Paul United Church of Christ was founded 150 years ago and boasts a variety of programs dedicated to serving members of the 

congregation and the community. The Church 

has a number of ministries, including a scholarship program, a Hunger Task Force, and a 

Neighbors in Need ministry. The members of 

St. Paul United Church of Christ devote a significant amount of their time to community 

service and are an integral part of the Greater 

Cleveland community. 

I also rise in recognition of Joseph Ripka, 

an internationally recognized and award-winning organist who will be performing at St. 

Paul United Church of Christ’s anniversary 

celebration. Mr. Ripka is this year’s winner of 

the Dublin International Organ Competition 

and was the 2006 winner of the San Marino/ 

Elizabeth Elftman National Organ Competition. 

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join 

me in honor of St. Paul United Church of 

Christ in Parma, Ohio as its congregation 

celebrates its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and in recognition of the Church’s significant contributions to the community. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY 

TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 

DAVIS ON THE OCCASION OF 

CARRYING ITS 50 MILLIONTH 

PASSENGER 

HON. MIKE THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. THOMPSON. of California. Madam 

Speaker, I rise day to recognize the University 

Transport System of the University of California, Davis or Unitrans, as it is known to its 

riders. For over forty years, Unitrans has 

served both UC Davis and the broader Davis 

community, and is celebrating the boarding of 

its 50 millionth rider this year. 

Founded in 1968 to support a growing UC 

Davis community, Unitrans has helped the 

University and the City of Davis grow and 

flourish. Originally, Unitrans had only two vintage double-decker London buses, which have 

become the most recognizable symbols of 

their presence in the community. The system 

is also notable because UC Davis students 

are almost entirely responsible for the day to 

day operations of Unitrans. All Unitrans drivers 

are undergraduate students and they are 

known for their professionalism and dedication 

to ensuring the system runs smoothly. Today, 

Unitrans has 49 buses servicing 14 routes and 

carries three million passengers every year. 

The facts about the benefits of public transportation are clear. Bus systems produce half 

as much carbon dioxide and substantially 

fewer emissions per passenger mile driven 

than private vehicles. By providing convenient 

access to public transportation, Unitrans is 

helping to keep our air clean and reduce traffic 

on our streets. Unitrans has also led the way 

in supporting clean energy by using compressed natural gas to fuel 90 percent of their 

buses. As our nation continues to work to fight 

global climate change, Unitrans provides an 

excellent example of how we can reduce our 

environmental impact and our carbon footprint. 

Madam Speaker, it is fitting at this time that 

we recognize the dedication and hard work of 

all the drivers, staff and riders who have made 

Unitrans such a success. Their efforts have 

been vital in supporting the growth of UC 

Davis, and we can expect that they will continue their service to the Davis community for 

many years to come. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF PAT HOLLARN, 

OKALOOSA COUNTY SUPERVISOR 

OF ELECTIONS 

HON. JEFF MILLER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on 

behalf of the United States Congress, it is an 

honor for me to rise today in recognition of Pat 

Hollarn upon her retirement as Okaloosa 

County Supervisor of Elections. 

For over twenty years Pat Hollarn has ensured the process of fair and balanced voting. 

As Supervisor of Elections for Okaloosa, 

County, Ms. Hollarn has distinguished herself 

as a champion of increasing voter turnout, voting access, and overall knowledge of the electoral process. With incredible foresight and a 

keen understanding of the needs of the community, Ms. Hollarn paired advanced technology with the voting booth, serving at the 

forefront of the Internet voting project. This 

project has enabled voting access to disabled 

voters and military personnel serving oversees. Operation Bravo, a program founded by 

Ms. Hollarn to alleviate the problem of servicemen and women not receiving their absentee 

ballots while abroad, has made it significantly 

easier for troops and other Americans living 

oversees to vote. Additionally, Ms. Hollarn 

stresses the importance of voter education 

with programs like ‘‘Kids Voting’’ and ‘‘Kids 

Vote Too’’ which relay the practice and privilege of voting to a younger audience. 

Ms. Hollarn’s dedication to the civic realm 

spans far beyond her current position of supervisor of elections. Ms. Hollarn’s re ́sume ́ is 

clustered with board and committee memberships as well as numerous positions in various 

organizations. Chambers of Commerce, The 

Bidgeway Center, and the North Okaloosa 

American Cancer Society highlight the longstanding career Ms. Hollarn has fashioned out 

of civic duty and community service. 

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United 

States Congress, I am proud to honor Pat 

Hollarn for her enduring allegiance to the voting process and the subsequent benefits such 

dedication has provided for the First District of 

Florida. 

f 

CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION 

FOR MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY NOMINATING COMMITTEE 

HON. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to pay tribute to the men and women of 

Arizona’s 8th Congressional District who for 

the past two years have served as members 

of my Military Academy Nominating Committee. 

These 23 dedicated citizens have played an 

invaluable role in assisting me with one of my 

most important duties as a member of the 

House of Representatives: nominating young 

men and women for admission into our nation’s military service academies. 

As a result of this committee’s wise counsel 

and careful consideration, in my first year I 

nominated 24 constituents for admission to the 

U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force and Merchant 

Marine academies. 

Committee members spent countless hours 

reviewing applications, interviewing students 

and drafting their recommendations for nomination to the academies. Their singular goal 

was to make sure that the best and brightest 

students received a nomination. 

My Military Academy Nominating Committee 

members are: 


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