[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E851]]

                    TRIBUTE TO MAYOR ROSEMARY KAPTUR

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, April 6, 1995
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Rosemary Kaptur, 
an outstanding leader and resident of the Third Congressional District. 
After 17 years of dedicated public service, Rosemary Kaptur is 
resigning as mayor of Palos Park, Illinois.
  Ms. Kaptur began her political career in 1975 when she became the 
first woman to be elected Commissioner to the Village Council. Prior to 
entering the political arena, Ms. Kaptur, who earned a degree in 
journalism and public relations, worked as an advertising manager. She 
was also very involved with community organizations and served as the 
public relations liaison for the Palos Park Library Board. In 1978, Ms. 
Kaptur was appointed as the first woman mayor of Palos Park. Since 
then, she has been elected by her constituents for three consecutive 
terms as Mayor of the Village.
  During her tenure as mayor, Ms. Kaptur has accomplished a tremendous 
amount on behalf of the residents of Palos Park. A strong advocate for 
the arts, Ms. Kaptur instituted the Fine Arts Committee, allowed the 
continued use of the Village Hall by the Palos Village Players, and 
hosted the Concert in the Park and the Taste of Palos. Her 
beautification efforts and the development of a Tree Body Committee 
have earned Palos Park Tree City USA Awards for 1994 and 1995. In 
addition, the Village parking lot was recently paved and the Heritage 
Court, a historic brick patio, was constructed. Mayor Kaptur also 
utilized her political and public relations skills to secure various 
state and federal grants for Palos Park. For example, Palos Park 
received a $2.5 million Build Illinois grant to defray the cost of 
installation of a new sanitary sewer, a $1.5 million Metropolitan Water 
Resources Development grant for sanitary sewer lift station and force 
main, and a $450,000 Department of Conservation grant to rehabilitate 
the Village Hall. Mayor Kaptur has introduced 911 emergency services, a 
cable television franchise, and a cost-saving trash removal franchise 
to Palos Park while expanding the boundaries of the village through 
annexation of several properties.
  After 17 years of public service, Mayor Kaptur has decided to retire 
in order to spend more time with her husband Joseph, her three grown 
sons, and her seven beautiful grandchildren. Mayor Kaptur has been a 
loving and strong influence on the Village for many years. I ask my 
colleagues to join the residents of Palos Park and myself in expressing 
our gratitude to Mayor Kaptur for her years of devotion to public 
service. I wish Mayor Kaptur good health in her retirement and, again, 
I thank her for her devotion to the residents of Palos Park.


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