E2114 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 4, 2000 people. We place few limits on their work; have suffered the loss of a great writer and ute to an outstanding native Californian, Mr. nor do we demand that they use their earn- advocate for objective and sound journalism. Harold H. Seyferth. I had the privilege to ings responsibly. We don’t raise enough ques- Mr. Nelson, a veteran journalist who never speak at Mr. Seyferth's retirement party a year tions about the cycle of consumption and ago, and again am honored with the oppor- self-indulgence that makes teenagers both a missed an opportunity to share his advice with desirable market and an exploited labor a rookie reporter, was a man who personified tunity to speak about such an inspiring and force. And we don’t help young people inte- the ideal journalist. His remarkably astute col- motivating person. I am privileged to have grate work into their lives and maximize its umns should be looked upon as examples of worked with Mr. Seyferth in the community for potential as a tool to help them grow up. superior journalism by younger journalists of he has shown tremendous leadership in Cali- So, when you’re stressed out during this today. fornia. shopping season, don’t take out your anger I express my most sincere condolences to Mr. Harold Seyferth was born in Stockton, on the overworked young people who serve both his family and coworkers. Lars-Erik Nel- California, on the 22nd of January in 1922. you in the stores. They have troubles of son will be sorely missed. Fifty-eight years ago Mr. Seyferth joined the their own. f United States Navy. He trained for the Am- f phibious Forces and spent the balance of his COLONEL THOMAS R. FRIERS TO naval career on LCT 173 making landings on IN HONOR OF LARS-ERIK NELSON, RETIRE FROM THE UNITED islands in the Pacific; Mr. Seyferth has since WASHINGTON COLUMNIST FOR STATES AIR FORCE ON 31 DE- then continued working in both our national THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, ON CEMBER 2000 and local communities. A committed, other-ori- HIS PASSING ented and hard-working man, Harold Seyferth HON. DAVE WELDON followed in his father's footsteps and became HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF FLORIDA a Locomotive Engineer with Western Pacific OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Railroad after returning from WWII. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Three years after completing his military du- Monday, December 4, 2000 Monday, December 4, 2000 ties, he entered California State University at Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Colo- San Jose. As a university student, he attended Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, nel Friers' 28 years of service to our Nation daytime classes, worked at night and still today I pay special tribute to Lars-Erik Nelson, culminate with his present assignment as found time to become involved in student gov- Washington columnist for The New York Daily Commander of the Department of Defense ernment and several other organizations. He News, who passed away on November 20, Manned Space Flight Support Office. Prior to proceeded to graduate with honors and moved 2000. Mr. Nelson, an enormously talented entering the service, he received a Bachelor of on to Stanford University. Upon completing his journalist, was revered by both his colleagues Science degree in mechanical Engineering graduate work, Mr. Seyferth earned a fellow- in the news media and by many members of from Clarkson University, New York. He later ship in Public Affairs with the CORO Founda- this body. received a Master of Science degree in Man- tion. Mr. Nelson served as the Washington col- agement from Central Missouri State Univer- Mr. Seyferth's community work is quite ad- umnist for the Daily News for nearly two dec- sity. mirable and has positively affected multitudes ades. He was an imaginative, generous, and During the course of his Air Force career, of people. He has worked at various levels of perceptive writer. His work has been espe- Colonel Friers rose to the level of command government including an internship with the cially noted for its nonpartisan, honest, and pilot accumulating more than 4,000 hours of city of Oakland, San Jose City Planner, and straightforward style. His column served as an flying time in five fixed and rotary-winged air- an assistant to the City Manager of San Jose. ideal conduit through which his readers in craft. Colonel Friers served in a multitude of He later became a planning consultant for the New York City's five boroughs could gain ac- locations around the world from Vietnam to city of Mountain View and subsequently curate and concise insight into the political the Persian Gulf. He served at many levels: moved on to be City Manager for the city of events and personalities inside the Beltway. DOD Staff, Air Force Headquarters, and Major Hollister. He also served as Property Manager Many of Mr. Nelson's outside-Washington Command. Colonel Friers was awarded com- for the city of Salinas and Chief Land Officer readers brushed up on their political aware- mand a remarkable five times. He com- for the city of Seaside. In addition to his devo- ness by reading his columns while riding New manded a detachment, a squadron, a group, tion to civil service, he has been an educator York City subways. His identification with New a DOD staff agency, and the Air Force's elite in many schools and communities. Throughout Yorkers was most evident in his clear yet flow- Combat Rescue School. He also served as his lifetime, Mr. Seyferth has taught at Golden ing prose and served as his most noted trade- flight examiner, aide to commander, director of Gate University, San Jose State University, mark. Michael Oreskes, the Washington bu- command protocol, and chief of rescue divi- Hartnell College, Monterey College of Law, reau chief of The New York Times said Nel- sion at the major command level. Monterey Peninsula College and various other son was ``a journalist's journalist. Honest, The decorations from his 28 years of serv- professional seminars. forthright, wise and clearheaded. He was cere- ice include the Defense Superior Service In recognition of his exemplary work Mr. bral without being stuffy.'' Columnist Jimmy Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Seyferth has earned the following honors: All Breslin described Mr. Nelson, fluent in Rus- Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the American City Citizen Award, City of San sian and an accomplished watercolor painter, Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Joint Serv- Jose; Outstanding Citizen, City of San Jose; as ``one of the few intellectuals left in the ice Commendation Medal. Charter Revision Commission, City of San newsroom.'' Colonel Friers commanded troops during Jose; Board of Directors, Boy's City Boys Lars-Erik Nelson, a native New Yorker who our Nation's triumph in the Persian Gulf. He Club, San Jose; Board of Directors, American graduated from Columbia College, began his also commanded during the Khobar Tower Cancer Society, San Jose; Board of Directors, journalism career writing for several news- bombing, when his 1st Rescue Group lost 5 Santa Clara County Farm Bureau; Board of papers in the greater New York area. He then brave airmen. Trustees, Enterprise School District; Chair- became a diplomatic correspondent for Reu- During good times and bad, Colonel Friers man, Monterey County Parks Commission; ters, where he specialized in Soviet and East- has led with courage and distinction. Like our Chairman, Citizens Advisory Committee, Local ern European affairs. While reporting in Eu- great national symbol, the eagles of a colonel Coastal Plan; Chairman, Malpaso Property rope and Russia, Mr. Nelson covered the fall are well suited to represent the character of Owners Association; Chairman, Carmel Rivers of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold this great leader. Mutual Water Company; President, Monterey War. After briefly working as the Moscow Bu- f Peninsula Chapter, AARP; President, San reau Chief of Newsweek, Mr. Nelson joined Jose University Alumni Association, Monterey the Daily News in 1979, where he worked as HONORING HAROLD H. SEYFERTH County Chapter; Founding member, Board of Washington Bureau Chief from 1981 until Directors-Friends of CSUMB; AARP/VOTE 1993, when he became a Washington col- HON. SAM FARR Coordinator 17th Congressional District; Board umnist for Newsday. He returned to the Daily OF CALIFORNIA of Directors, Mariposa Hall, Inc.; Who's Who News as a columnist in 1995. For the past two IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in America; Who's Who in the West; Who's years, he has also been a regular contributor Who in California; and Who's Who in Real Es- to The New York Review of Books. Monday, December 4, 2000 tate. A commendable, multi-talented and multi- Mr. Speaker, the journalistic communities of Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I wish interested man, Mr. Seyferth has continuously both Washington, D.C. and New York City today to speak with great pride in paying trib- devoted himself to our community.