E2288 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 20, 2008 

Voters re-elected Virginia for six consecutive terms on the board of trustees. After her 

retirement, the board named her the first 

trustee emeritus. 

‘‘She was a stalwart throughout,’’ Fred 

Logan, former JCCC board chair, said. ‘‘She 

is one of the founders but not just a founder. 

She has been an important part for 40 years. 

That kind of service will always be remembered.’’ 

On Nov. 20, the JCCC Board of Trustees 

will interview eight finalists to fill Virginia 

Krebs’ term, which ends June 30. 

The candidates are: Laura S. Byrne-Harris, 

Leawood; William A. Dean, Overland Park; 

Ronnie Metsker, Overland Park; Michael M. 

Morales, Olathe; Melody L. Rayl, Olathe; 

Kurtis M. Ruf, Overland Park; Mary R. 

Tearney, Leawood; and Sandra K. Willsie, 

Overland Park. 

The new trustee will begin Dec. 11. The 

seat is up for election in April 2009. 

f 

ROBERT MASSEY 

HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, on November 8, 2008, Robert Massey died in Fair 

Oaks, CA. Born on November 5, 1921, ‘‘Farmer Bob’’ (as he is known) contributed to the 

community throughout his life. As a local historian, Bob frequently shared his knowledge of 

the area and made a habit of correcting media 

reports and the Fair Oaks Historical Society 

whenever their reports conflicted with his own 

expertise. Bob was a member of the Sunrise 

Center Toastmasters, sharing with others his 

great oratory skills and motivational tactics. 

Many families enjoyed a visit to Farmer Bob’s 

pumpkin patch and truck farm. 

While Bob made many great contributions to 

our region, perhaps his most important work 

was his strong advocacy for the Auburn Dam. 

The Auburn Dam Council’s website describes 

Bob as President of the council from 1921– 

2008. This is an appropriate title for someone 

who understood the need for greater flood 

protection and was willing to work for the safety of so many others living nearby. Unfortunately, the dam has yet to be built, but when 

that day comes it will be in large part thanks 

to Bob’s efforts. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s 

loving wife of 65 years, Beryl, and the rest of 

his family and friends. Bob brightened the 

lives of so many people, and he will be truly 

missed by those of us who were fortunate 

enough to have known him. 

f 

PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARD OF 

MERITORIOUS EXECUTIVE TO 

DR. L. BRUCE SIMPSON 

HON. JEFF MILLER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I 

rise to honor the selection of Dr. L. Bruce 

Simpson for Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive for 2008. Each year, the 

President recognizes and celebrates no more 

than 5 percent of career Senior Executives 

with this award. Recipients of this prestigious 

award are strong leaders, professionals, and 

scientists achieving results and consistently 

demonstrating strength, integrity, industry, and 

a relentless commitment to excellence in public service to America. 

Dr. Simpson is Director of the 308th Armament Systems Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, 

Florida and is a 27-year veteran of the Federal 

civil service. He leads a wing of over 900 personnel and executes a portfolio of programs 

valued at more than $46 billion. The wing’s 

programs include the Joint Direct Attack Munition, Small Diameter Bomb, Advanced Medium 

Range Air-to-Air Missile, High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile Targeting System, Joint Air-toSurface Standoff Missile, Joint Air-to-Surface 

Standoff Missile Extended Range, Miniature 

Air Launched Decoy, Aerial Target Systems, 

P5 Combat Training System, Sensor Fuzed 

Weapon, Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser 

and Joint Stand-Off Weapon System. These 

programs are all key elements in enabling our 

warfighters to engage high-value targets and 

are vital weapons in the Global War on Terror. 

Selected for Senior Executive Service in 

2003, Dr. Simpson has served as Deputy 

Manager of the Armament Product Group, Director of the Air Armament Center Special 

Projects System Program Office, and Director 

of the Directed Energy Directorate at the Air 

Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Simpson has 

been honored as a Distinguished Fellow at 

Mississippi State University and received Annual Technical Achievement Awards from the 

Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force 

Systems Command. 

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United 

States Congress, I would like to congratulate 

Dr. L. Bruce Simpson on this most prestigious 

Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. America and the United States Air Force 

depend heavily on the selfless service and 

leadership he provides. I sincerely wish Dr. 

Simpson many more years of dedicated public 

service to this great country. 

f 

HONORING FRANK MECHAM 

HON. KEVIN McCARTHY OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. MCCARTHY of California. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today to honor Frank Mecham, 

a resident and community leader from Paso 

Robles, California, for his outstanding and exemplary leadership while serving as the mayor 

of Paso Robles from 2000 through 2008. 

Frank has been a longtime leader in local 

government, reflecting the same success, enthusiasm, care, and commitment to his community as nine generations of Mecham Californians and five generations of San Luis Obispo 

County Mechams before him. His great-great 

grandfather, Don Joaquin Estrada, was a 

member of the first County Board of Supervisors in 1852, and his father was Fire Chief 

at Fort Hunter Liggett for over 20 years. Carrying on this tradition of public service, Frank 

served our country in the United States Navy 

and later began his political career on the 

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the 

Planning Commission for the City of Paso 

Robles. He was elected to the City Council in 

1998 and served for two years. In 2000, Frank 

was the first mayor of Paso Robles to be directly elected by the voters (in the past, the 

mayoral post had rotated between elected city 

councilmembers). 

In 2003, Paso Robles felt the devastating 

effects of the San Simeon Earthquake. Frank 

showed strong leadership and composure 

throughout this natural disaster and guided the 

City through the aftermath and recovery efforts. Through his tireless efforts, the City of 

Paso Robles was able to rebuild faster and 

move forward onto the road to recovery 

quicker than anyone had expected. In addition, as mayor, he also oversaw the completion of the Barney Schwartz Park, the Public 

Safety Center, the Robert Rader Memorial 

13th Street Bridge, and the Niblick Bridge expansion. 

In addition to his public service, Frank has 

also remained active in the Paso Robles community. Frank is a member of the Twin Cities 

Community Hospital Board of Governors, the 

Nacimiento Water Commission, and the Paso 

Robles High School Technology Academy. He 

has also coached youth baseball and football 

for over two decades in the community, established a youth football league which continues 

to this day, and created the first Youth Commission for the City in 1999. In 2004, Frank 

was honored by the Paso Robles Chamber of 

Commerce as Roblan of the Year in recognition of his outstanding service to the local 

community. 

In a City named for its strong oak trees, 

Frank has stood strong in times of challenge, 

and helped create prosperity through a commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparent 

and accountable government. I commend 

Frank for his service and leadership as mayor 

of Paso Robles, and wish him and his family 

well as he continues to serve our community 

as a supervisor on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. 

f 

HONORING TRAVIS WEBB 

HON. TIMOTHY WALBERG OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor Corporal Travis Webb from 

Adrian, Michigan who was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mosul, 

Iraq on January 22, 2007. He lost both legs 

and his best friend Nicholas Brown died in his 

arms after the blast. The following poem is 

dedicated to a true American hero, Travis 

Webb. 

A SOLDIER’S STORY

Throughout our Nation’s history 

Such magnificent men of honor and glory, 

have so been seen 

Who so went, where angel’s feared to tread 

Who went off to war 

All for us, the ones who so lived and died and 

so bled 

All so we could be here! 

As this is a soldier’s story! 

All about Heartbreak, Faith and Glory 

All about life and death 

As he put himself in harm’s way, as his best 

friend died in his arms that day 

When courage comes to crest! 

All about a young man from Michigan . . . 

Travis, and his heroic stand 

As all of us, he would so bless 

Who came out of such hell and fury! 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with REMARKS