[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 12524] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CELEBRATING THE HOWARD K. WATKINS PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE PROJECT ______ HON. JIM COSTA of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project, aptly recognized as the current ``Fresno Photo Laureate.'' Since his arrival in Fresno in 1973, Howard K. Watkins has been photographing and documenting events in the greater Fresno area. His collection of 200,000 photos is the largest of its kind and includes: elected officials, community and business leaders, members of the judiciary and legal community, celebrities, numerous community groups, parades, political rallies, athletes, historic buildings and several award winning photographs. Influenced by the historic Pop Laval Photographic Archive Collection and encouraged by others, Mr. Watkins has partnered with the Fresno Regional Foundation and the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno to provide a permanent home for all to enjoy. Therefore, Fresno State is helping to establish the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project with the goal of making the photographs publicly accessible as an online historical archive. Mr. Watkins began taking photos in junior high school with a simple Brownie camera. He pursued his passion for photography as a hobby as a young adult and continued throughout his career as an attorney with Fresno County Legal Services and the Office of Fresno County Counsel. Mr. Watkins became the official photographer for the Fresno County Supreme Court and has taken photographs for the State Bar of California and the California Supreme Court. Now retired from a distinguished thirty-three year career in the legal field, Mr. Watkins is devoting most of his time to indexing his photographic collection and raising the funds needed to make his photos accessible for generations to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise with me today to express our appreciation for Mr. Watkins' unwavering dedication and commitment to keeping the greater Fresno legacy alive through the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project. ____________________