November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2325 

the 1990 and 1998 freezes were challenges 

he rose to meet. His tenure as commissioner 

saw major changes in technology and regulation unfold. While known for his strict oversight, Cosmo was also noted by one grower to 

be ‘‘. . . the most cordial and professional 

. . .’’ person they had ever met. Contemporaries and employees alike commended Mr. 

Insalaco for his friendship and his mentorship. 

Probably most noteworthy was reference to 

Cosmo Insalaco’s vision. Mr. Insalaco was an 

ardent promoter of education concerning agriculture. Cosmo helped launch the Blossom 

Trail, a self-guided tour of the fruit and nut 

blossoms throughout Fresno County during 

bloom time. Over the years, this annual event 

has grown and now draws tourists from all 

over the region and state. This tradition will 

continue to bear witness to Cosmo Insalaco’s 

influence in the Fresno region. 

It is most fitting now to honor this man for 

his life and his dedication to friends, colleagues and especially agriculture. I urge my 

colleagues to join me now in celebrating this 

truly innovative man’s life, accomplishments 

and to extend his family our thoughts. He will 

be, beyond a doubt, missed. 

f 

HONORING CHARLES HENRY 

RIDER 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Charles Henry Rider of 

Kansas City, Missouri. Charles is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest 

qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1261, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Charles has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many Scout activities. Over the 

many years Charles has been involved with 

Scouting, he has not only earned numerous 

merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. 

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join 

me in commending Charles Henry Rider for 

his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of 

America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED 

CAREER OF DR. R. WALTER 

‘‘WHIRLWIND’’ JOHNSON 

HON. JOHN LEWIS OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker I 

am honored to rise today to recognize the distinguished career and achievements of Dr. R. 

Walter ‘‘Whirlwind’’ Johnson, one of many unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Era. We also 

recognize him for his role in guiding the early 

careers of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe— 

the nation’s first African American tennis 

champions. 

Dr. Johnson built a tennis court in the backyard of his Lynchburg, Virginia home during a 

time of racial segregation and spent more than 

20 years (1950–71) training African American 

athletes who would go on to compete against 

top players at major junior events. Dr. Johnson primarily used his own funds to house, 

clothe, feed, and develop these junior players, 

including Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who 

said repeatedly throughout their lives that they 

never would have made it without Dr. Johnson’s generosity and support. 

Dr. Johnson inspired, directly and indirectly, 

many of his students to pursue tennis-related 

careers, including Willis Thomas, president of 

the American Tennis Association (ATA) and 

tennis director with the Washington Tennis 

and Education Foundation (WTEF) in Washington, DC; former pro Leslie Allen, ex-chairwoman of the U.S. Fed Cup Team; former pro 

Zina Garrison, former U.S. Fed Cup captain; 

former pro Rodney Harmon, former head of 

men’s tennis for the United States Tennis Association (USTA); teaching pros Arthur 

Carrington and Bob Davis; United States Federal Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr.; and Doug 

Smith, who covered tennis for 3 of the nation’s 

largest newspapers—Newsday, the New York 

Post, and USA Today and is the author of Dr. 

Johnson’s biography, ‘‘Whirlwind, The Godfather of Black Tennis.’’ 

Dr. Johnson most significantly helped tear 

down racial barriers in tennis years ago and 

helped Americans understand that tennis 

should be enjoyed by all who play and love 

the game. Dr. Johnson also served as head 

football coach at 2 Georgia universities—Morris Brown University and Atlanta University—in 

the late 1920s. He later established a junior 

development tennis program to train and prepare African American players, including Arthur Ashe, to compete in the United States 

Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) sanctioned 

tournaments. Whirlwind’s junior program was 

a prelude to the high-tech junior training academies and camps now run by tennis gurus 

Nick Bollitteri, Rick Macci and former No. 1 

World Champion Chris Evert. Dr. Johnson operated the camp for more than 20 years and 

helped more than 100 African American juniors earn college tennis scholarships during 

that era. 

Madam Speaker, we should continue to 

honor American heroes like Dr. R. Walter 

‘‘Whirlwind’’ Johnson who fought for a better 

America without race barriers on and off the 

court. America and the game of tennis have 

both benefited an enormous amount because 

of Dr. R. Walter ‘‘Whirlwind,’’ Johnson and we 

as a Nation owe him and other American heroes a tremendous amount of gratitude. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO MR. WILLIAM 

JOHNSON 

HON. FRED UPTON OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to pay special tribute to Mr. William Johnson 

of St. Joseph, Michigan. An accomplished 

businessman and community leader, Bill Johnson is retiring from the board of directors of 

Lakeland Health Care after more than 33 

years of service. 

During that time he has led Lakeland 

through a period of phenomenal growth, with 

the construction of new facilities, the addition 

of state-of-the-art equipment, and many 

awards for quality health care. Beginning back 

in 1975, Bill Johnson has used his leadership 

and team building skills to implement hospital 

mergers, build model care programs, and develop world-class community health initiatives. 

Since 1993, Bill Johnson has served as the 

chairman of the Lakeland Health Care Board, 

and he leaves a legacy that will shape health 

care in southwest Michigan for years to come. 

Bill Johnson was born in Lincoln, Illinois, 

and graduated from the University of Illinois. 

He served his country as a first lieutenant and 

company commander in the United States 

Army. 

Following that service to his country, he became an innovative and respected business 

leader. He was president of Heath Company, 

vice president of strategic alliances for Zenith 

Data Systems, and even after his retirement, 

he came back as chief operating officer for 

Gast Manufacturing Corporation. 

He brought his business experience and entrepreneurial flair to Lakeland Health Care and 

to a number of other community organizations. 

And while Bill Johnson formally steps down as 

the chairman of the board, we all know he will 

continue to be involved in the community he 

loves. He and his wife Patt and family are true 

cornerstones of our corner of Michigan. 

f 

KURDISTAN IS MODEL FOR IRAQ 

HON. JOE WILSON 

OF SOUTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam 

Speaker, I would like to submit the following 

op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on 

November 12, 2008, by Masoud Barzani, 

President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It 

conveys the strong and important relationship 

between the Iraqi Kurdish population and the 

United States as well as their efforts to help 

build a peaceful Iraq. I was fortunate this year 

to visit the Kurdistan Region, and I know firsthand of Kurdish appreciation of the American 

people. 

[From the Wall Street Journal, November 12, 

2008] 

KURDISTAN IS A MODEL FOR IRAQ—OUR PATH

TO A SECULAR, FEDERAL DEMOCRACY IS INSPIRED BY THE U.S. 

(By Masoud Barzani) 

Iraq’s Kurds have consistently been America’s closest allies in Iraq. Our Peshmerga 

forces fought alongside the U.S. military to 

liberate the country, suffering more casualties than any other U.S. ally. 

And while some Iraqi politicians have challenged the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, 

Iraq’s Kurdish leaders have endorsed the 

pact as essential for U.S. combat troops to 

continue fighting terrorists in Iraq. 

The Kurdistan Regional Government 

(KRG) is committed to a federal, democratic 

Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors. 

We have benefited enormously from the 

service and sacrifices of America’s armed 

forces and their families, and we are deeply 

grateful. We are also proud to have shared in 

such sacrifices; my brother was among those 

severely wounded during the liberation of 

Iraq. 

Last year, following a U.S. request, we deployed Kurdish troops to Baghdad. These 


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