[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2646-S2647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          DEATH OF ROBERT MIER

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate Robert Mier, a 
distinguished Illinoisan who died of lymphoma on February 5. Mr. Mier's 
impact on cities in Illinois and throughout the world has been great.
  Robert Mier served as the city of Chicago's economic development 
director from 1983 to 1989. During this time, he was the architect of 
Chicago's 1984 development plan, which became a national model for 
equity-oriented local municipal development. Mier's approach emphasized 
jobs, neighborhoods, and equitable distribution of resources and 
opportunities as a means to combat urban crime and poverty. During his 
Chicago tenure, Mr. Mier also spearheaded efforts to fight plant 
closings, and he worked toward empowering neighborhoods to spur 
development.
  [[Page S2647]] Mr. Mier joined the faculty of the University of 
Illinois in 1975, specializing in teaching and research on community 
economic development, social policy planning and methods of 
implementation. As founder of the University of Illinois' Center for 
Urban Economic Development, Mier prepared future generations in a 
``bottom up'' approach to dealing with the problems facing our cities. 
The center continues today to provide technical assistance to 
community-based development organizations and policy research on local 
development.
  More recently, Mr. Mier focused on writing and teaching, while still 
remaining active in developing urban economic programs in Chicago, as 
well as Los Angeles, Denver, and Belfast, Ireland.
  Robert Mier's passing leaves a great void that will be felt not only 
by his family, friends, and colleagues, but by the world as well. His 
life is a sterling example of an activist leader of an important cause, 
whose insight and commitment will inspire generations to come.


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