E392 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 9, 2005 for the Fast Battleship Striking Force, the PERSONAL EXPLANATION HONORING THE POLK COUNTY EN- Divisionary Bombardment on the southern TERPRISE ON THEIR 100TH ANNI- coast of Okinawa prior to the invasion at VERSARY Naha, and the shore bombardments carried HON. out on the Japanese islands of Hokkaido and OF MISSOURI Honshu. Tex also established the Pacific Fleet HON. Headquarters at the Yokosuka Naval Base IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF Administration Building, where an impressive IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES flag raising ceremony for Admiral Nimitz took Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Wednesday, March 9, 2005 place on August 30, 1945. Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday On September 30, 1945, Tex was separated March 8, 2005, I was unable to cast my vote Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise from the Navy and subsequently received the on H. Res. 133 and H. Res. 122. Had I been today, to honor and congratulate the Polk citation and award of the Bronze Star Medal present, I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall County Enterprise on their centennial anniver- from Admiral Halsey. On January 1, 1949, Tex 53, 54, and 55. sary, which they are celebrating throughout was promoted to the permanent rank of Lieu- this year. The Polk County Enterprise has tenant Commander, and he was retired in that f been a faithful banner of news and source of rank in 1954. record for generations of residents in East Tex continued his commitment to service THE WALNUT CANYON STUDY ACT Texas. From a humble founding by young en- through his role as Judge Advocate and as a OF 2005 trepreneur Will West in the fall of 1904 the Director of the U.S. Navy League, New York Polk County Enterprise and its parent com- Council. Tex currently resides in Manhasset, pany Polk County Publishing has grown to a New York, and although he claims to be semi- circulation of over 60,000 including seven retired, he is still an active member of the New HON. RICK RENZI weekly and bi-weekly newspapers, three shop- York bar and is engaged in the practice of law OF ARIZONA pers, and two job-printing operations. in New York. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, I commend Israel G. ‘‘Tex’’ Throughout its 100 year history, the paper Seeger for his years of dedicated service to Wednesday, March 9, 2005 has had only 16 publishers. Mr. Alvin Holley, this country. Tex’s integrity, bravery, and stat- the current publisher of the Polk County Enter- ure have certainly made a significant impres- Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to in- prise has served in his post for the last thirty sion on the great many lives he has touched. troduce the Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2005. years—the longest of any publisher at the En- In recognition of this, I ask my colleagues in The Walnut Canyon National Monument terprise. I am pleased to report he has no the House of Representatives to please join was originally designated by Presidential proc- plans to retire anytime soon. me in honoring Israel G. ‘‘Tex’’ Seeger as he lamation on November 30, 1915, to protect Mr. Holley got his start in the newspaper celebrates his 90th birthday. Sinaguan cliff dwellings. Since the original business as a paperboy for the Corsicana f designation, the Walnut Canyon National Daily Sun. The papers sold for a nickel each, Monument has been expanded to include Holley’s profit was two cents per paper. That HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS may not seem like much by today’s stand- OF LAREDO INDEPENDENT 3,580 acres to protect additional ruins adja- cent to the Monument. ards—but back then a movie show cost only SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEM- nine cents. BER GEORGE M. BECKELHYMER In the past few years, several groups have Mr. Holley stayed in the newspaper busi- proposed expanding the Monument with sur- ness—and after high school worked in the rounding Forest Service land and designating HON. HENRY CUELLAR newspaper’s business office and occasionally this expanded area as a National Park. To fur- OF TEXAS was assigned news stories. He was named ther explore the options of the Walnut Canyon IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the advertising manager in 1963 and served National Monument and potential inclusion of Wednesday, March 9, 2005 there until 1972 when he took a position with this expanded area, along with Senator the Polk County Enterprise. Two short years Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to MCCAIN, I have introduced the Walnut Canyon later, Holley bought the Enterprise and re- honor the contributions of Laredo Independent Study Act. School District Board Member George M. mains its publisher to this day. Beckelhymer, of my Congressional District in The Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2005 di- Mr. Holley credits his paper’s success to the Laredo, Texas. rects the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec- employees that keep the presses running. In a Mr. Beckelhymer graduated from the Univer- retary of Agrculture to jointly conduct a study recent interview, Holley estimated that the sity of Texas at Austin, earning his bachelor’s on the management of certain land adjacent to combined years of service of current employ- degree in radio, television, and film. After the Walnut Canyon National Monument. ees exceeds 430 years and that the average graduation he decided to venture into the busi- Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff length of service is 14 years. That says a lot. ness world, and he became part owner of L. have both passed resolutions supporting fur- The men and women of the Polk County Bufalo Pawn Shop. ther review and study of the management op- Enterprise and Polk County Publishing Com- In May 2002 he was elected to District 4 of tions for the Walnut Canyon National Monu- pany not only love what they do for a living, the LISD Board of Trustees, and currently ment. In both resolutions, support for maintain- but also obviously love their community. serves as Secretary of the Board. His District ing certain public uses in the Monument was From the days of Linotype to today’s high includes Sanchez/Ochoa Elementary, Alma relayed, as well as the need for the protection speed desk top computers, the Polk County Pierce Elementary, K. Tarver Elementary, and of the resources in the Monument. Enterprise has covered all of the happenings J.W. Nixon High School. Mr. Beckelhymer be- Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides for in East Texas. lieves in working together with all of the ap- public input into any recommendation that is pointed Trustees to create a good working en- With a loyal staff and publisher who is just forwarded by the Secretary of the Interior and vironment between faculty, parents, and chil- as likely to be caught working at the news the Secretary of Agriculture. Within the study, dren. desk or delivery bays as he is his private of- Mr. Beckelhymer enjoys working for the the legislation requires the Secretaries to look fice—I am confident the Enterprise has many community, and is an active member of the at the management objectives of the Forest more exciting years in store. Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee in Service and the National Park Service, as well Mr. Speaker, our nation’s hometown com- the City of Laredo. Beckelhymer hopes to en- as the opportunities for maintaining existing munity newspapers have been the trusted sure that all students receive the best quality public uses, such as grazing, hunting, moun- source of news Americans have depended on education to prepare them for the future, and tain biking, rock climbing and additional forms since our nation’s earliest beginnings. The he is proud that he is able to help the commu- of recreation. Polk County Enterprise has a proud legacy nity move in a positive direction. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sup- and it is an honor to represent the commu- Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had the port the Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2005. My nities they serve in the U.S. House of Rep- opp