HONORING ROBERT "BOB" BACKON

HONORING ROBERT "BOB" BACKON

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2427-H2428] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ROBERT ``BOB'' BACKON (Mr. Bergman of Michigan was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of a truly remarkable man, my cousin, my friend, and a true pillar of his community, Robert ``Bob'' Backon. [[Page H2428]] Bob passed away on February 15 at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy defined by service to his family, his students, and the community that he loved so deeply. Life and tomorrow are never guaranteed. Little did any of us realize when I met with Steve, his son; Steve's wife, Leigh; and his granddaughter, Charleigh, about 10 days ago to think about the planning of Bob's memorial service, that today I would be extending condolences to Steve and Charleigh on the passing of Leigh, unexpectedly last Sunday. Again, life and tomorrow are never guaranteed. The only thing that is guaranteed is God's love and God's forgiveness. {time} 1045 Born in Highland Park, Michigan, and raised in Ironwood, Bob devoted his life to learning and to helping others succeed. After earning his bachelor's degree from Northland College and a master's in education from Northern Michigan University, he moved to Houghton, Michigan, in 1967. For the next 35 years, he taught U.S. history and government at Houghton High School, shaping the minds and the character of generations of young people. To many of his students, he was simply ``Mr. B.'' To the community, he was much more than a teacher. Bob was a mentor, a coach, and someone who believed deeply in investing in young people. He coached basketball and golf. Even after his coaching days ended, he stayed involved in athletics as a referee, bringing fairness, enthusiasm, and integrity to every game he worked. He was that kind of referee on the basketball court who celebrated the players of both teams on a shot well played and sometimes would chastise them a little bit for them being on the outside edges of the rules. In fact, he told me a story. One time he said to his class in the beginning of November: You know November 15 here in northern Michigan is not a holiday. Just because it is the opening of deer season doesn't mean you get a day off of school. However, if a few days after November 15 there is some fresh venison on my desk, your grades won't suffer. That was the kind of guy Bob was when it came to engaging his students and celebrating life as it was meant to be for these young high schoolers. Bob believed that service with the community didn't stop at the classroom door. In 1990, he stepped into public service, first on the Houghton Planning Commission and later on the Houghton City Council. In 2008, he was elected mayor of Houghton, a position he held with pride and dedication for more than a decade. Those who worked with him often described Bob as the kind of leader who brought people together. He led with kindness, wisdom, and an optimism that made others believe in the future of their town. He was the kind of person who knew everyone, encouraged everyone, and celebrated every success, big or small. To our family, Bob was something even more important. He was a steady presence, someone who cared deeply about the people around him. He faced life's hardships with strength and grace, carrying forward with the same generosity of spirit that defined him. Bob loved his family, and one of his greatest joys was being a grandfather. He took pride in watching that next generation grow, just as he had taken pride in helping generations of students find their way. As his granddaughter, Charleigh, heads off to Miami of Ohio this fall, I know she is going to take the memories of her grandfather with her and celebrate that every day. Mr. Speaker, communities across this country are built by people like Bob Backon, people who quietly dedicate their lives to others: teachers who inspire, coaches who mentor, local leaders who step forward, not for recognition, but because they care deeply about the place that they call home. Bob embodied the very best of Michigan's Upper Peninsula: hard work, humility, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to community. His impact will live on in the countless students he taught, the athletes he coached, the city he helped lead, and the many people whose lives were better simply because they knew him. Whenever you hear the song ``Sweet Caroline,'' you think about Bob humming that somewhere and leading the chorus. That was his song, and I am sure he is still singing it up in heaven. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fong). The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. BERGMAN. I will always be proud to call him my cousin and friend. May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew him. ____________________