[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                     TRIBUTE TO MR. TALAT M. OTHMAN

                                 ______


                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Talat M. 
Othman, chairman of the board and founding member of the Islamic 
Cultural Center of Greater Chicago, on the occasion of the celebration 
of the center's 20th anniversary on November 19, 1994, at the Hyatt 
Regency O'Hare Hotel in Chicago.
  As the founding member, Talat Othman saw the Islamic Cultural Center 
established in a ground breaking ceremony in September 1974, with 
completion on March 21, 1976, and became its first president.
  The second phase of the Cultural Center was completed in 1988, and 
Mr. Othman was called upon by the board to chair the grand opening 
ceremonies, and in 1991 Mr. Othman was elected to the board and has 
since served as its chair.
  As one of the founding fathers, Mr. Othman has been an active force 
in the center's activities, serving Muslims from Bosnia, the Middle 
East, Pakistan, and other regions of the world. An important activity 
in which he has been involved, is the center's outreach program, 
reaching out to those of other faiths, as well as the important sharing 
of dialog with those in the Abraham faith.
  In 1990, Mr. Othman formed a school advisory board to revamp and 
strengthen the weekend school at the center, and he has provided strong 
support to the activities of the center's women's group, including the 
provision of social, educational, and humanitarian support for the 
center.
  In 1991, Mr. Othman was elected president of the ad hoc committee and 
successfully completed the tasks given him by the Islamic Organizations 
in Chicago to form the Council of Islamic Organizations, which now 
coordinates the activities of all the Islamic organizations throughout 
the area.
  Mr. Othman, in addition to his duties as president of the center, is 
also chairman of the Dearborn Financial, Inc. of Arlington Heights, IL, 
and serves on the board of directors of Bank One Wisconsin Corp., 
Milwaukee; the Dansk International Design, Mt. Kisco, NY; Gorham, Inc. 
of Providence, RI; the Tejas Power Corp. of Houston, TX, and many 
others.
  Mr. Othman is also a member of the Dean's Council of Advisors, 
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, on the board of Rand 
Corp., the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Chicago, and 
the Middle East Policy Council in Washington, DC. He also serves on the 
Board of Governors of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and its 
fundraising arm, the American-Syrian-Lebanese Associated Charities.
  Mr. Othman has been listed in the Who's Who in the Arab World, Who's 
Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in the Midwest, Men of 
Achievement, Personalities of America, Distinguished Americans, and 
Five Thousand Personalities of the World.
  I heartily commend Mr. Othman for his lifelong public service, and 
for the strength of his leadership of the Islamic Center and its many 
humanitarian achievements on the part of the membership. He is, without 
a doubt, a leader among men. He continues to serve humankind with his 
great business acumen, human compassion, and his outstanding 
organizational skills.
  On the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Islamic Cultural 
Center, I send my warmest regards to Mr. Othman and the members of the 
center, and my best wishes for a happy, successful, and productive 
future.

                          ____________________