Berry (AR01) -- Floor Statements -- In Honor of Mike Freeze, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission


	{June 15, 2006}
Statement of the Honorable Marion Berry
	IN HONOR OF MIKE FREEZE, ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

	Mr. Speaker, I rise here today on behalf,of Congressmen John Boozman, Mike Ross, Vic Snyder, and myself, to pay tribute to one of my good friends, Mike Freeze of England, Arkansas, who has served the last seven years on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. We are grateful to have such a leader in Arkansas committed to improving conservation and recreation across our state. Freeze was appointed to the Commission for a seven year term on July 1, 1999, serving the last year as Chairman. He has brought a wealth of experience to the position, serving as the Commission's first former employee to return as Chairman, the Commission's first fish farmer, and the first ever member from Lonoke County. Freeze operates Keo Fish Farms, is the previous owner of Arkansas Aquatics Inc., and was the state fisheries research coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission from 1978-1983. Freeze graduated from Little Rock Hall High School in 1971, received a bachelor's degree in fisheries and wildlife management from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville in 1975, and a master's degree in biology from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1977. He has served many leadership roles over the years including President of the National Aquaculture Association, the American Fish Farmers Federation, the Striped Bass Growers Association, and State Chapter President of the American Fisheries Society. It has been my pleasure and privilege to work with Mike Freeze for many years. I hope my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives will join the Arkansas delegation in thanking Mike for his service and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.