The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING JOHN KARRAS AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
______
HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the co-founder of RAGBRAI John Karras as Iowan of the Week. RAGBRAI is the world's oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycling tour event, and it is a beloved Iowa tradition. John, who was a feature writer for the Des Moines Register, took his first ride across Iowa with some friends in 1973. They chronicled their journey, and that trip sparked the inspiration for what is now known as RAGBRAI--an acronym for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
John died on November 10, 2021, but the bicycle ride he helped create will continue in Iowa in 2022 and for many more years. RAGBRAI attracts 15,000 people to Iowa every summer, and allows visitors to see the state's beautiful cities, towns, counties, and countryside while riding their bikes an average of 468 miles between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
RAGBRAI generates more than $364.8 million annually for the State of Iowa. The week-long event also brings in nearly $25 million in direct spending, which means towns that are lucky enough to have RAGBRAI ride through see upwards of $3 million a day in tourism spending. That money means so much to the Iowa towns that host RAGBRAI each year, and to the vendors that help support the bicycle ride.
The ride does more than raise money for our great state. It brings bicyclists from all over Iowa, the nation, and the world together to share their love of their favorite sport and pastime. It has created friendly rivalries between news organizations as they compete to see who can eat pies the fastest, and good laughs for everyone as the bicyclists have come up with some memorably humorous team names throughout the years.
I've had the pleasure of riding RAGBRAI and can honestly say there's no experience quite like it. I loved spending time in rural areas along the route, meeting Iowans and out-of-state riders to hear their stories, and the physical challenge of a cross-state ride. You have to push yourself through the unpredictable weather of an Iowa summer and the hilly landscape, but you're rewarded with seeing and experiencing the state's beauty from a unique perspective. RAGBRAI is a great way to connect with family, friends, and strangers alike while making memories that last a lifetime. John leaves a lasting legacy through the creation of this iconic event.
John certainly didn't know what RAGBRAI would grow into when he took his first bicycle ride across the state, but I am so thankful he went out anyway and tried something new. Iowa summers would not be the same without this phenomenal tradition and John will be missed by everyone who knows and loves RAGBRAI. It is my pleasure to honor John Karras as Iowan of the Week.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 208
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up