[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO MR. CARL GERSTACKER

                                 ______


                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 1995
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise today to honor 
and pay tribute to a man who devoted much of his life to helping and 
improving the lives of others. Mr. Carl Gerstacker passed away recently 
and took the heart of a city with him. Midland, MI, my hometown, was 
the proud recipient of Mr. Gerstacker's generosity and leadership for 
most of his life.
  Carl was born in 1916, and received the typical upbringing of a child 
in the Midwest. In 1938, he received his engineering degree from the 
University of Michigan. Two years later, Carl, like many of the brave 
young people at the time, answered the Nation's call to duty and 
enlisted in the Army. He valiantly served his country from 1940 to 1946 
and returned home to a grateful nation and community.
  He began working for the Dow Chemical Co. Although he possessed an 
engineering degree, his abilities with numbers and figures won him 
praise from his superiors and he was placed in charge of the finance 
department. His powerful character and charisma came to the forefront 
and his proficiency and demeanor made him a highly respected manager. 
In 1948, he became a member of Dow Chemical's board of directors at age 
32 and was later named chairman of the finance committee. In 1960, he 
was elected chairman of the board.
  Carl's business and personal talents made him a vital component of 
Dow Chemical's senior management team. He assumed responsibility of the 
corporation as head of a company with $820 million in annual sales. His 
hard work and determination inspired others to achieve the most and 
when he left the company 26 years later, Dow Chemical had sales of 
approximately $4.9 billion. This enormous increase in sales was partly 
due to Carl's business acumen but more importantly it was his ability 
to recognize talent in his employees and his ability to inspire their 
best work and loyalty to the company.
  Carl was a strong advocate for education. He served on the boards of 
several universities and worked tirelessly on behalf of students. His 
hiring practices were among the most progressive of his era not because 
he was trying to institute social policy, but because he constantly 
sought the best people. His investment in them reaped tremendous 
rewards. His policies went beyond company profits to ensuring the 
company invested in the people and community.
  Carl was committed to environmental protection. He helped institute 
many of the reforms that made the Dow Chemical Co. a leader in 
environmental protection and accomplished this while continuing to 
expand job opportunities and assisting the community.
  Carl had the power to understand people. A tireless champion of 
community projects, Carl established the Gerstacker Awards in 1956, 
which honors outstanding citizens. Teachers, law enforcement officers' 
and firemen are among those who have received the Gerstacker Award for 
outstanding community service. In addition, Carl established the Rollin 
M. Gerstacker Foundation in honor of his father to help fund civic 
projects in the Midland area.
  Carl donated his home to the local church as a parsonage and later 
bought it back to provide office space for local foundations. He gave 
generously to the city to help build housing for seniors. Although his 
financial contributions helped fund the projects, it was his time, 
effort, and encouragement that made these projects successful. His 
commitment went beyond financial contributions to include personal 
involvement.
  His community activism continued far into his retirement years. He 
served on the board of the Midland Rotary Club, and the Midland Red 
Cross. He founded the Midland Community Foundation and served as 
campaign chairman for the United Way of Midland. He was a man who 
wished to be measured not by what he could get out of something but by 
what he was able to give back.
  Carl Gerstacker's unbounded generosity and exuberance inspired 
everyone he met. His sense of humor put people at ease and his ideas 
and dreams challenged people to think and challenge themselves. Carl 
Gerstacker helped build a city and a company, but more importantly, he 
helped build a community and a family. His loving wife, Esther 
Gerstacker; family members including our colleague, Bill Schuette, 
Bette, Lisa, Sandra, and Gretchen continue in his path of community 
service and dedication. As a neighbor, Carl's counsel and wisdom were 
invaluable to my family and friends and his words and deeds continue to 
influence us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you will join my colleagues and me in honoring 
Mr. Carl Gerstacker, his many contributions, and his enduring legacy. 
He has provided us with the tools to succeed; now it is up to us to 
continue his work.


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