[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E106-E107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING ROSALIE KUNTZ OF PASADENA, TX

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 21, 1997

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of my constituents, 
Rosalie Kuntz of Pasadena, who is a civic leader in her community and a 
pioneer for women in the insurance industry. Mrs. Kuntz is active in a 
wide range of community activities and served as the first female 
president of the Texas Association of Life Underwriters. The following 
article from the January 8, 1997, Houston Chronicle describes her many 
accomplishments and honors:

 Her Joy Is in the Journey--Rosalie Kuntz Revered by Pasadena Community

                            (By Pat Swanson)

       Willingness and commitment have not only earned Rosalie 
     Kuntz success, but respect in her profession and in the 
     Pasadena community she calls home.
       Kuntz is celebrating 41 years in the insurance business. 
     And, at age 72, she continues to be heavily involved in civic 
     activities for the Pasadena-area community.
       Kuntz and her husband Gerald (Jerry), a retired surveyor 
     for Shell Oil Co., have lived in Pasadena 48 years. The 
     couple are owners of the Kuntz Insurance Agency. Their 
     children, Rita, Linda and Kyle have given them eight 
     grandchildren. The Kuntz' are longtime members of St. Pius V 
     Catholic Church.
       Scott Loomis, an insurance man who has known Rosalie Kuntz 
     for 30 years, said, ``Rosalie is one person who could handle 
     herself in a man's world before it was fashionable. While 
     some men were intimidated by Rosalie, others wanted her on a 
     project because they knew she would do a good job.''
       Parker Williams, president of San Jacinto College South, 
     said, ``Rosalie is known by

[[Page E107]]

     her actions. She is the type of person that doesn't demand 
     respect, but people respect her. She is one smart cookie. She 
     has a bright mind and a deep faith.
       ``Rosalie is the type of person who believes you can do 
     anything you want to do if you want to do it badly enough. 
     You know she is always there if you need her. She gives back 
     to the community what she takes out.''
       Kuntz was the first female president in the 59 year history 
     of the Texas Association of Life Underwriters that has a 
     membership of 8,300.
       She served in that capacity for the 1984-1985 term. During 
     that term, Kuntz received national honors at the National 
     Life Underwriters Conventions for Public Service and 
     Membership achievements for the State of Texas and Pasadena 
     Association of Life Underwriters.
       Prior to her presidency in the organization, Kuntz served 
     as T.A.L.U. Vice-Chairman of Public Service and Public 
     Service Chairman.
       She is a life member of the Texas Leaders Round Table and a 
     charter member of its Lone Star Leaders. Kuntz has served in 
     all offices of the Pasadena Association of Life Underwriters, 
     including president.
       One of Kuntz's most memorable experiences was in 1983. As 
     past president of Women Life Underwriters Conference, Kuntz 
     was one of 50 women invited to be a luncheon guest of 
     President Reagan in the White House.
       Kuntz was born in Houston. After she and Jerry moved to 
     Pasadena in 1948, Rosalie assumed the position of assistant 
     manager at the Pasadena Bowling Center working for Charles 
     (Monty) Manoshagen.
       ``Monty left the bowling center to go into the insurance 
     business, and was also responsible for getting me into it. He 
     and his wife came over to the house one night in 1956 with a 
     bunch of books. He threw the books on the coffee table and 
     said, `Rosalie, you're going into the insurance business.' I 
     told him I didn't know a thing about insurance. He said, 
     `I'll teach you.' And, he did. I will finish my 41st year in 
     the business today, Jan. 8, 1997,'' Kuntz said.
       ``When I went into the business, there weren't many women 
     in the insurance business. It was very difficult at first 
     because women were not accepted in the insurance field, just 
     like the real estate business.
       ``Now, women are building up in the real estate business 
     and also in the insurance business,'' Kuntz said.
       ``I had some good friends and good teachers to teach me the 
     business, and I went on from there. One doesn't do anything 
     by themselves. They always have someone that will help them.
       ``I was very fortunate in having Mr. Manoshagen to be 
     around to help me along. He kept up with me as long as he 
     lived. (He died about four or five years ago.) He would 
     always call me each year and say, `What is your goal for next 
     year?' And every goal I told him I had set, I made throughout 
     the years.
       ``It is a great profession for women. And, it is the 
     greatest career anyone could ever get into, any type of 
     insurance business really, but specifically life and 
     health,'' Kuntz said.
       Jerry and Rosalie's secretary, Jannie Pugh, get much of the 
     credit from Kuntz.
       ``Jerry helps me an awful lot. So does my secretary, 
     Jannie, who has been with me almost 20 years. She is just 
     like a member of the family. They are behind the scenes, but 
     they sure do help a lot,'' said Kuntz.
       ``We have worked together so long, we are more like 
     friends,'' said Pugh.
       For her services to the community, Kuntz was chosen 
     Pasadena Citizen of the Year in 1968. She was elected to the 
     Pasadena Hall of Fame in 1988 for the same reason.
       According to Stella Walters, owner of Bruco, Inc., 
     ``Rosalie and I have been involved with a lot of the same 
     organizations for 30 years. We also are good personal 
     friends. We have worked together on everything, including the 
     Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Optimists, Red Cross, YMCA, 
     American Heart Association, to name a few.
       ``She has more energy in her, for her age, than anyone else 
     I know. She and Jerry have been married 48 years. She is a 
     good mother. I doubt there is anyone in business in Pasadena 
     who does not know her. She is just amazing.''
       As a member of the San Jacinto Day Foundation, Kuntz 
     chaired the first Strawberry Festival in Pasadena in 1974. 
     She served as an advisory board member in 1986.
       She was presented the 1992 Lone Star Award for volunteer 
     service in the community. She was a director of the South 
     Houston Chamber of Commerce from 1978 until 1980.
       Kuntz has been Director and Membership Chairman of the Deer 
     Park Chamber of Commerce since 1991 and is the immediate past 
     president of the organization.
       Kuntz was the first woman to be elected president of the 
     Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves as a 
     member of the organization's Cultural Affairs, Voice of the 
     Chamber and Governmental Affairs Committees.
       She also was chairman of the Pasadena Chamber's New Member 
     Orientation Committee during the 1990-1991 and 1992-1993 
     years.
       From 1968 to 1996, Kuntz has been a director of the 
     American Heart Association, Pasadena Unit. She served as 
     chairman of the Heart Business Drive for 12 years, and was 
     chosen Volunteer of the Year in 1987, with a grant named in 
     her honor.
       She was appointed to serve on the Advisory Board of the 
     Battleship Texas from 1983 to 1989, by Texas Governor Mark 
     White.
       Kuntz is past president of the Soroptimist International of 
     Pasadena, and has served on the advisory board of The Rose, a 
     Texas-based, non-profit organization dedicated to breast 
     cancer screening since 1987. She also has served as a member 
     of the Rehabilitation Foundation since 1984.
       Additionally, Kuntz has been a director of the former 
     Barbour's Cut Seaman's Center since 1991. The facility is now 
     the Lou Lawler Seaman's Center.
       She is past director of the Texas Society of the Prevention 
     of Blindness; the recipient of the 1975 Distinguished Service 
     Award from the Pasadena Jaycees; 1969 chairman of the 
     Pasadena Drug Abuse Committee; vice-chairman of the Committee 
     for the National Olympic Girls Volleyball Team and past vice-
     chairman and member of the Pasadena City Beautification 
     Commission.
       As a longtime member of St. Pius V Catholic Church, Kuntz 
     is a past secretary of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston Board 
     of Education; the St. Pius Finance Committee and past member 
     of the St. Pius V Church Parish Council.
       For 25 years, Kuntz also served as a volunteer coach for 
     the St. Pius V Catholic girls softball and volleyball teams.
       According to Bud Osborne, former owner of Osborne-Apple 
     Ford, ``Rosalie is a vibrant get-up-and-go person. She always 
     bought cars from us and insures our whole family. We like to 
     kid her and tell her we sent all her kids to college. She 
     comes by at least once a month to talk to us. She is just a 
     wonderful person. We think a lot of Jerry, too.''
       ``Rosalie is my dear friend,'' Nina Osborne said. ``When 
     she was inducted as president of the Deer Park Chamber of 
     Commerce, she arranged to have us seated with her family. She 
     is just like family to us, too.''
       Billie Fife, former Civil Defense Director for the City of 
     Pasadena and administrative assistant to past Pasadena Mayor 
     Clyde Doyle, said of her friend, ``Her interest in you 
     continues long after you take out a policy. There is no 
     monetary reward.
       ``She is just there for her clients. She is there for your 
     needs no matter when she last saw you--a couple of days ago 
     or 15 years ago. She is just like that little rabbit with the 
     battery. I believe her joy is in the journey. She will never 
     retire.''

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