[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10976-H10977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO WALTER ``CHICK'' HOLTKAMP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hoke] is recognized for 5 minutes.


                                Medicare

  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I yield to the gentleman from 
Georgia [Mr. Kingston].
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio. I wanted 
to show this chart, which apparently the previous speaker might not 
have read the bill, but it does show clearly that the Republican plan, 
which is a reaction to the Clinton trustees saying that Medicare is 
going bankrupt, our plan to strengthen, save, and preserve Medicare is 
very much on target and increases the amount per recipient from about 
$5,200 to over $7,000. In my neck of the woods and I think in Ohio that 
is not considered a cut. I know here in Lala land, Washington, DC, you 
can call anything a cut, just as you can call Clinton a conservative.
  Mr. HOKE. Is there a rule that you have to be truthful on the floor 
in what is said.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Not that I know of. But the fact is that this is 
available publicly. What is very important is that we do Medicare on a 
bipartisan basis. It is not time to scare the seniors. It is not time 
to bring out all the demagoguery and partisan politics. It is time only 
to save the program for your mom and dad.
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for 
pointing that out.
  I rise, Mr. Speaker, tonight to recognize one of northeast Ohio's 
leading citizens, Mr. Walter ``Chick'' Holtkamp. Chick is the retiring 
CEO of the Holtkamp Organ Co., our Nation's leading manufacturer of 
pipe organs. It is my purpose tonight to pay tribute to the all-
inspiring contributions that he has made to his craft. On October 28, 
1996, in Cleveland, OH, a gala in Chick Holtkamp's honor aptly dubbed 
chickfest is bringing together the world's foremost organists, 
composers, and artisans of the trade to recognize Chick Holtkamp and 
his remarkable career.

[[Page H10977]]

  A fixture in the northeast Ohio community for over 40 years, Chick 
has continuously crafted organs which have earned him the reputation of 
premier craftsman in his trade.
  Chick Holtkamp has strived and succeeded in producing organs which 
sustain the original musicality of classical organs. Turned off by 
synthesized and modern sounds, Chick gains his inspiration from the 
musical eras of days past. His approach to organ building is from the 
perspective of the musician and the organist so as to produce the most 
pleasing and melodic tones. A master organ builder, Chick has built 
more than 400 organs in his lifetime. Chick takes his place in a 
distinguished Holtkamp family tradition begun 141 years ago, which, 
remarkable in itself, makes the Holtkamp Organ Co., Cleveland, OH's 
oldest company.

  The company, now headed by Chick's son Chris, is a benchmark for 
organ quality throughout the country and the world. The company's work 
is of such high quality and the family reputation so well known that 
the Encyclopedia Britannica cites Chick's father, Walter, as a world 
leader in an organ building revolution that began in the 1930's.
  It was at that time that standard organ builders had decided that the 
pipes of an organ should be hidden behind screens. Why? Because the 
pipes were simply thought to be too unattractive and needed to be 
concealed. Walter Holtkamp pioneered changes both to improve the sound 
and the appearance of the pipes and to expose them, thus realizing the 
great beauty that they could add to the architectural esthetics of any 
building. Holtkamp organs are distinguished by their magnificent 
brushed stainless peel pipes and by the simplicity and beauty of their 
consoles.
  Chick continued his father's tradition of ingenuity with his organ 
building, deciding to work closely with organists to maintain the 
historical significance of the organ while developing and tailoring a 
modern instrument which could play a new repertoire of modern music. In 
doing this, Chick freed the organ of earlier stereotypes and permitted 
organists to compose new modern works for this dynamic instrument.
  These organs are a unique treasure to all because be they organist, 
composer, or the individual who has the privilege of seeing and hearing 
a Holtkamp organ personally, they are enriched. While there is no set 
formula for the specificities of a Holtkamp organ, indeed Holtkamp 
organs have been made in the entire spectrum of sizes and styles. One 
mainstay has been the strong and steady demand for these very special 
instruments.
  Holtkamp organs already grace such fine institutions as the Julliard 
School of Music, Yale University, Notre Dame University, Western 
Reserve Academy, and Cleveland's own Museum of Art. The tradition of 
excellence will no doubt continue as Holtkamp organs are still 
commissioned today, making the Holtkamp Organ Co. the sole organ 
builder in the country in demand today.

  To commemorate his unparalleled dedication to the organ, chickfest 
will feature a hymn festival and organ recital by premier organists and 
composers from as far away as Germany. Perhaps most impressive is the 
fact that five composers have actually written commissioned pieces 
specifically to honor Chick.
  Mr. Speaker, all too often in our hurried lifestyles we forget the 
importance of art and music in our culture and the beauty that it 
creates and inspires. I have had the privilege of knowing the Holtkamp 
family, particularly Chick's nephew, Henry, who has been my best friend 
for the past 30 years, and I wish to personally thank Chick and his 
entire family for their dedication to preserving the extraordinary and 
magical craft of organ building that in their hands has indeed risen to 
the level of art itself.
  I join countless other admirers of his work in sending my sincerest 
congratulations on a lifetime of superb achievement.

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