[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 21718] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO MR. RICHARD G. ``ANDY'' ANDERSON ______ HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE of california in the house of representatives Thursday, September 28, 2006 Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize and honor an outstanding citizen and public servant who will celebrate his 50th Anniversary as Fire Chief of the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department on November 11, 2006. I join with the local community of Quincy and the residents of Plumas County in congratulating Mr. Richard G. ``Andy'' Anderson for his remarkable service. Andy Anderson was born and raised on a farm in Southern Illinois. In addition to attending school and performing farming chores, Andy also worked at the local mortuary. When World War II commenced in 1941, he pleaded with his father to allow him to serve in the United States military. When his father finally granted permission in 1942, Andy enrolled in the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Cullman for the duration of the conflict and received an honorable discharge for his contributions. After the war, Andy attended mortician school in San Francisco and completed his apprenticeship in the Bay Area. He then took a position in Red Bluff, California, before purchasing mortuaries in Portola and Quincy, California. In 1956, Andy moved to Quincy to manage his businesses and was elected fire chief of the local department in November of that same year. During his service as chief, Andy made the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department into a model organization. He has stressed the importance of interagency cooperation and created the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association which included the fire chiefs from throughout rural Plumas County. Andy served as the chairman of this organization for 25 years. Presently, the organization has expanded to include all Plumas County emergency service providers. In addition to this valuable contribution, Andy participated in or created several other county and statewide organizations dedicated to emergency services and disaster preparedness. To this day, he serves as the Director of the Plumas County Office of Emergency Services and as Plumas County Fire Warden. Andy is also an accomplished pilot and has an active interest in radio broadcasting, railroading, and county fairs. He has poured his efforts into these worthy causes as well as numerous other local volunteer and civic organizations. Andy has great pride in his two grandsons, Will and Richard, and has been married to his wife Gayle for over 42 years. He affectionately refers to Gayle as ``the real Chief.'' Mr. Speaker, my district encompasses a large area of rural California, and I am happy to say that these communities are kept strong by people like Andy Anderson who make sacrifices in order to serve their fellow citizens. Andy is deserving of our recognition because of his five decades of public fire and emergency service, his military service to our country, and his love of family. I appreciate the opportunity to honor him today. ____________________