[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               CONGRESSMAN KILDEE HONORS WILLIAM MINARDO

                                 ______


                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 29, 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to pay tribute to an outstanding 
individual from my hometown of Flint, MI, Mr. William Minardo.
  Bill Minardo will be honored with an 85th birthday party on July 11, 
1994. This event will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of community 
education. Bill is being honored for his outstanding achievements in 
the field of community education in Flint, MI. Bill, along with Mr. 
Frank Manley and C.S. Mott, formulated the concept of community 
education in Flint, MI. The first community education program was 
launched in Flint on November 10, 1935, when 500 students, after 
finishing their school day, returned to Lowell Junior High School in 
the evening. The response to that first offering of community education 
was overwhelming. From there the program expanded to the point where it 
gained national recognition and is now a part of practically every 
school district in the United States. Bill Minardo has the distinct 
honor of being the world's first community school director.
  Bill was born in Flint and is a product of the Flint school system. 
He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1932. He began his 
career in Flint as a teacher at Lowell Junior High School. He worked as 
a volunteer the first year, doing whatever was needed. He also acted as 
a liaison between the parochial schools in Flint and the Flint Board of 
Education. He taught physical education and science while at Lowell. 
Bill was a tireless worker, beginning his teaching day at 7 a.m. and 
ending at 5 p.m. He went home and returned back to the school by 7 p.m. 
for the community education program, which often lasted until 10 or 11 
p.m.
  In 1951 Bill became the community school director at Freeman 
Elementary School. It was in the 1950's and 1960's that community 
education flourished in Flint. This was as a result of the involvement 
of visionaries such as Frank Manley, C.S. Mott, and Bill Minardo. 
Throughout the infancy of community education and as it grew, Bill 
Minardo was at the forefront. His dedication and leadership were 
essential to the program's success in Flint. Bill retired from the 
Flint schools in 1973. Since then, he has been active in the Northern 
High School Alumni Association, the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame 
and numerous other community activities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor and a pleasure for me to have this 
opportunity to recognize the achievements of this outstanding 
humanitarian, William Minardo. He has been a pioneer in the field of 
community education and a great role model for thousands of students in 
Flint, MI. I know my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me 
in thanking Bill Minardo for his years of selfless dedication to the 
field of community education.

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