E2216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 5, 2001 THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE Today as we commemorate the 60th anni- TRIBUTE TO ROLLIN ‘‘RUFFY’’ LATE JOHN T. O’CONNOR versary of the Pearl Harbor attack, I would like JOHNSON ON THE OCCASION OF to honor the men and women who make up HIS RETIREMENT AS A VFW AS- HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO the Idaho Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association. SISTANT DEPARTMENT SERVICE OF MASSACHUSETTS This group of 50 active members helps keep OFFICER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the memory of those who served so bravely alive. To be a member you must be a military Wednesday, December 5, 2001 HON. BART STUPAK survivor of the December 7th attack, have OF MICHIGAN Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to been within a three-mile radius of the Island of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES remember John T. O’Connor, a community ac- Oahu between 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2001 tivist and environmental advocate who passed The nation-wide group has approximately away on November 30, 2001. A longtime resi- 10,000 members and started with just 11 peo- Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to dent of Cambridge, Massachusetts, John ple in 1958. The Magic Valley Chapter started pay special tribute to a U.S. military veteran— O’Connor fought for many important causes, on Feb. 17, 1979 with five members. Over the a special veteran, one who after completing from ending poverty to protecting our environ- years, the members have given back to each his own tour of duty has spent a career pro- ment. Idaho community—buying flags, talking with viding assistance to other veterans. Mr. He graduated from Clark University in 1978, youth groups, and performing countless hours Speaker, I rise to honor Rollin ‘‘Ruffy’’ John- beginning a career of public service and advo- of community service. They have sounded son on the occasion of his retirement as a cacy. After graduation, he joined the ‘‘Volun- their motto, ‘‘Remember Pearl Harbor—Keep Veterans of Foreign Wars assistant state serv- teers in Service to America’’, an organization America Alert’’ in all their activities. How ice officer for the Upper Peninsula of Michi- focused on eliminating poverty. He went on to poignant this statement is considering the gan. found the National Toxics Campaign in 1983 events of September 11, 2001. It is conventional wisdom that no person in and fought tirelessly for passage of the Super- Today, I would like to honor this group by any organization—and that includes you and I, fund law. naming each survivor who currently lives in Mr. Speaker—is truly irreplaceable, but Michi- Mr. O’Connor never lost his commitment to Idaho. This list is according to the Idaho Pearl gan veterans may look long and hard before preserving our environment and demonstrated Harbor Association. The members are: they come up with an individual who has this in a number of ways over the years. He Harold F. Beebe, Pocatello, Kaneohe NAS; worked and battled so hard for the rights for served as Chairman of Gravestar, Inc—a de- Ralph Eaton, Twin Falls, USS Henley; Richard our former military men and women as Ruffy velopment company that focused on environ- Hansing, Twin Falls, USS Nevada; C.H. Johnson has. I guess that, in Ruffy’s case, his mentally sensitive real estate projects. In Harame, Pocatello, USS Detroit; William work on behalf of veterans blends innate 1991, he founded Greenworks, a company Harten, Idaho Falls, USS West Virginia; Per- Yooper cussedness with the personal style of that provides a wide range of services from of- shing Hill, Idaho Falls, USS Nevada; Leroy J. a person who has claimed that his nickname fice space, financial support and advice to en- Kohntopp, Filer, USS Maryland; Gale D. ‘‘Ruffy’’ comes from his early days of enjoying vironmental start-up companies. Mohlenbrink, Buhl, USS Northampton; Patrick a good fight. If you combine those characteris- Mr. O’Connor paid tribute to his Irish roots C. O’Connor, Pocatello, Receiving Station, tics with the important task of fighting for vet- by serving on the Irish Famine Memorial Com- Pearl Harbor; Robert R. Olsen, Chubbuck, erans’ benefits, you know you have a mixture mittee. The Committee successfully raised the Naval Hospital; Steve F. Phillips, Challis, Ford that can make people at the Department of funds to construct a memorial in Cambridge Island NAS; David R. Roessler, Gooding, 24 Veterans Affairs sit up and listen. and dedicated it in the presence of Mary Rob- SIG.; Tony Sabala, Jerome, 21st INF.; Irvin A. After graduating in 1951 from Negaunee inson, then President of Ireland. Satterfield, American Falls, USS Argonne; High School in Michigan’s U.P., Ruffy enlisted Many people have stories to tell about Mr. Nicholaus Gaynos, Post Falls, 407th SIG; in the U.S. Navy, serving the first two years on O’Connor’s generosity and his spirit. He Miles R. Gillespie, Nampa, 27th INF.; Roy the destroyer U.S.S. Beale and two more helped local young people by providing guid- Hayter, Athol, USS Honolulu; Munith F. years at a base in the Mediterranean. His ance, advice and even money for college tui- Higbee, Meridian, USS Phelps; Don A. Irby, four-year hitch completed, he returned to the tion. By these actions, he no doubt changed Boise, USS Maryland; Wallace R. Jacobs, U.P. and was one of the first dozen civilians the course of many young lives for the better. Lewiston, USS California; Dale E. Magnuss, hired at K.I. Sawyer, a Strategic Air Command Mr. O’Connor made the world a better place Pinehurst, USS Cummings; James R. Mallory, Base near Marquette, which is now closed. in so many ways. He was generous with his Boise, USS St. Louis; Ernest R. Mangrum, Following his Sawyer job he worked for a time and his considerable talents, helping to Boise, USS West Virginia; Eugene N. number of years for the U.S. Post office, but further so many different causes, both large McDonough, Boise, 24th INF.; Dallas F. he took the job that really concerns us here in and small. He dedicated a significant amount Pohlmann, Boise, Pack Train; Glenn R. 1988, when he accepted a position with the of time and money to charitable organizations, Rosenberry, Caldwell, HQ 18th Bomb EG.; Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign making a tangible difference in the lives of so Carrol V. Rowell, Boise, 2d Marie Air WG; Wars as an assistant state service officer in many. Robert W. Arent, Nampa, USS Maryland; Detroit. I came to know John O’Connor first as a Richard L. Artley, Lewiston, USS Oklahoma; At least one Detroit colleague remembers local businessman, then as an opponent in the Ray Aznavoorian, Post Falls, USS Ontario; Ruffy arriving from the U.P. with his wife Do- 1998 congressional race, and later as a friend. Conway B. Benson, Boise, USS Tennessee; reen in their pickup truck, and that colleague He touched many lives in his 46 years, includ- Thomas A. Brown, Boise, USS Phoenix; Frank recalls checking to see if there was a hunting ing mine, and I am saddened by his passage. A. Cannon, Orofino, USS Wasmuth; Robert A. rifle in the rear window. Doreen remembers My thoughts and prayers are with John’s wife, Coates, Nampa, USS Nevada; James R. there was no gun, but she believes the rack Carolyn Mugar, his family and his many Critchett, Silverton, Kaneohe, NAS; Frank R. was probably there. friends during this difficult time. Dallas, Meridian, HQ 18th Bomb WG. Mr. Speaker, I said that Rolling Johnson f USS Ogalala; Harold M. Sr. Erland, Boise, was a fighter for veterans. An example of his HQ HAW.; Dan C. Fry, Banks, Kaneohe; Hor- tenacity is what occurred after Ruffy learned HONORING THE IDAHO PEARL ace E. Dresser, Caldwell, USS San Francisco; that veterans were being pressed for the co- HARBOR SURVIVOR’S ASSOCIATION Raymond W. Garland, Couer D’Alene; USS payments of their prescription drugs. He in- Tennessee; John R. Sandell, Kamiah, HQ 5th quired about the appeal process and was told HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON Bomb GP; James K. Thomas, Boise; Franklin by the VA the there was no appeal. Well, Mr. OF IDAHO Elliott, Eagle. Speaker, the VA had tangled with the wrong IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HQ Hawaiian AF; Kenneth F. Walters, guy, and through the tenacity of Ruffy John- Lewiston, USS Pennsylvania. son a national appeal process was estab- Wednesday, December 5, 2001 On behalf of all Idahoans and Americans lished. Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to everywhere, ‘‘thank you’’ for your sacrifice and Ruffy was transferred from Detroit back to honor a generation of American patriots. They service to your country. You’ve reminded the U.P. in 1992. His initial veterans’ service were the men and women at Pearl Harbor, Americans that we can never become compla- area was the eastern U.P. but by the end of Hawaii that day of infamy, December 7, 1941. cent and must keep our defenses strong. We the decade he was assisting across the Upper The men and women who served and died at will remember Pearl Harbor and always be on Peninsula. I know what’s involved in that ef- Pearl Harbor paid a great price to our nation. alert. fort, Mr. Speaker, because I have put more CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2217 than five hundred thousand miles in driving standing citizens. Ms. Debbie Tamlin of Fort Mr. Speaker, Coloradans know and appre- around my congressional district. Ruffy has Collins, Colorado, this week, has been named ciate Debbie Tamlin’s numerous achieve- clearly been up to the task, serving above and Realtor of the Year by her peers and col- ments, but to me, Debbie is a close friend, beyond the call of duty by going to every con- leagues of the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, one I’ve known since I first arrived in Colo- vention and every meeting that involved vet- a commendation she richly deserves for a va- rado. She’s a devoted mother, a pious be- erans. He was instrumental in creating a pro- riety of reasons. Debbie is a true professional liever, and one of the most honorable people gram to name a U.P. Veteran of the Year, and who never lets up until her clients are well I’ve ever met. Whenever there is a cause. he has been active as a judge in those great served. Her standard is excellence, and her Debbie is there to be its champion. Whenever VFW programs, Voice of Democracy and Na- dedication to her profession is legendary. there is a need, Debbie is there to help. tional Youth Essay. Debbie is proprietor and president of her Whenever there is a challenge, Debbie is Ruffy has held numerous positions at his own firm ZTI Group. She has been a real es- there to face it. She’s a profile in courage, a own local post, Negaunee’s Post 3165, includ- tate broker in Colorado for over twenty years, heroine of endless generosity, and a loyal ing serving as post commander in 1980–81. and president ZTI Group since 1989. Recently friend to many. He is currently 14th District Junior Vice Com- she was awarded for her work receiving the mander. Distinguished Service Award twice from the Debbie Tamlin is an authentic American and Ruffy has counseled widows of veterans on Colorado Association of Realtors (CAR), and an enthusiastic patriot. She loves the West the benefits they are due, fought to keep vet- the 2001 Political Service Award from CAR. and all its traditions. She embodies the spirit erans in nursing homes, and helped process Debbie is a familiar face at the Colorado of freedom and the hope of a brighter tomor- myriad claims for deserving former military in- State Capitol, at the County Courthouse, at row; and she inspires all around her to dividuals. All his great attributes aside, how- City Hall, and even here in the nation’s Cap- achieve great things that once seemed only ever, Ruffy has one blind spot. Maybe it was itol. She is clearly my community’s most force- distant dreams. She’s a leader—one whose those years in Detroit, but despite the advice ful and most competent advocate for the im- mark on her community is unmistakable and of friends, despite the wishes of his own chil- provement of laws to benefit consumers and always positive—the kind of leader who dren, he remains a Detroit Lions fan in the to build a stronger, healthier community. As makes her friends and neighbors proud, sets heart of Green Bay Packer country. We’ll for- one who for thirteen years has been on the re- the bar high, and leaves us in awe. She is re- give him this flaw. ceiving end of Debbie’s lobbying, I can tell spected across the country and beyond even Mr. Speaker, on Dec. 8, Ruffy Johnson will you, she’s not to twist arms, make threats, or that. Her passion for excellence in her profes- be honored by friends, peers, his wife of 45 mislead. She’s a skilled negotiator, a brilliant sional life and personal life make her extraor- years, his career-Army son, and two of his intellectual, and an honorable decent woman dinary. She is a splendid woman. three daughters who are able to make it, at a whose word is her bond, and whose integrity Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult for any of us to de- precedes her. Of course she’s persuasive. gathering in Ishpeming, Michigan, I ask you scribe the essence of a particular State. Colo- Many of the best laws related to property and my House colleagues to join me in salut- rado, for example, is known for many things— rights and housing at the federal, state, and ing Rollin ‘‘Ruffy’’ Johnson, a true friend of a rich history, rugged mountains, wild majestic local level have only been accomplished be- veterans in northern Michigan. skies and hard-working people. Debbie Tamlin cause of Debbie Tamlin’s devotion to her com- f is the face of Colorado. Her life’s work em- munity and her profession. bodies the qualities we all admire. She’s a lov- TRIBUTE TO MS. DEBBIE TAMLIN Debbie Tamlin is a political activist. She’s ing wife, a caring mother, and gentle soul and backed me in each of my efforts to represent impressive figure in Colorado’s bright future. HON. BOB SCHAFFER Colorado, and I humbly warrant I would not OF COLORADO have succeeded were if not for her assistance. I am grateful for our colleagues from throughout the nation who join us tonight in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In fact, there are many leaders in office today who owe their election victories to Debbie. expressing our warmest commendations and Wednesday, December 5, 2001 Conversely, there are many aspirants whose congratulations to Debbie. She’s more than Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today political ambitions have been dashed because the Realtor of the Year, she’s Debbie Tamlin. on the floor of the House to congratulate and of Debbie * * * well, let’s just say because May God continue to richly bless her and her call attention to one of Colorado’s truly out- Debbie didn’t see things exactly their way. family.