[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E206-E207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALUTING THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION AND BAR ASSOCIATION PUBLIC
SERVANTS MERIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
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HON. LOUIS STOKES
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 11, 1997
Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute eight outstanding
individuals who will be honored later this week at a special ceremony.
On February 14, 1997, the Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation and the
Cuyahoga County Bar Association will host the 51st Public Servants
Merit Awards Luncheon. At the luncheon, the honorees will receive the
Franklin A. Polk Public Servants Merit Award. The individuals to be
honored are: Delores Bell; Charles T. Birmelin; Michael Flanagan;
Deborah Fleischer; John P. Garmone; Rosanne O'Brien; Fred W. Papay; and
Maryellen Reddy.
The Public Servants Merit Award is named in honor of a distinguished
lawyer, the late Franklin A. Polk. During his career, attorney Polk was
committed to recognizing the contributions of public servants. He also
chaired the annual awards luncheon for 40 years.
Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in saluting the 1997 Public Servants
Merit Award recipients. Each of the individuals is more than deserving
of this level of recognition. At this time, I want to share with my
colleagues and the Nation some information regarding the honorees.
Delores A. Bell, as an employee of the Cleveland Municipal
Clerk of Courts since 1972, Delores holds the title of deputy
clerk. She is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure
office, sorting capias from the previous day, initial
processing of tickets from the division of building and
housing as well as the Department of Health and the City
Income Tax Dept.
During the late 1960's through the early 1970's, Delores
worked inside the voting booth on each election day.
Married to John for nearly 35 years, she is the mother of
three grown children, Monte, Sonnita and Tyronn. She states
that her most outstanding accomplishment has been to raise
her three children and be the very best mother possible. She
is also proud of the fact that one child has earned two
college degrees and the other two will soon earn their
degrees as well. Delores states, ``If I could live my life
over, there are a few things I would do differently, but I
would not change my walk with the eternal deity. It is best
to give your children all of the time you can when they are
young''.
Her activities include walking miles around the track in
the spring, summer and fall. For relaxation she enjoys
traveling, going to the movies and meditating.
Charles T. Birmelin, a 1961 graduate of the Stenotype
Institute of Washington, DC, Charles T. Birmelin began his
career in the field of court reporting with Mehler and
Hagestrom as a free-lance reporter for 5 years. In 1970 he
came to work for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
taking the position of assistant official court reporter. By
1979, Charles has assumed the very demanding position of
chief official court reporter. His responsibilities include
overseeing the staff of 42 court reporters, plus two
administrative staff. He services 33 judges of the court of
common pleas; provides answers to persons who may have
questions relating to the court reporters; as well as provide
answers for the general overall supervision of the entire
court reporting department and staff.
A native of Mansfield, OH, Charles also enlisted in the
U.S. Army in 1962 and was decorated with the ``Good Conduct
Award'' and the ``Distinguished Service Award'' before being
discharged in 1965. Charles lists his outstanding
accomplishments as being elected president of the Ohio Court
Reporters in both 1978 and 1979 and receiving an award of
being a fellow of the national court reporters Assoc. He was
also an Eagle Scout and a troop leader in the Boy Scouts of
America, Mansfield, OH.
For relaxation Charles enjoys fishing, boating and camping.
He says he also likes to go to auctions to find that ``good
buy'' of an antique.
Michael E. Flanagan, St. Edward's and Cleveland State
undergraduate, Michael Edward Flanagan comes to his position
as chief deputy bailiff of Cleveland Municipal Court based on
a long family commitment to public service. His father was
Chief Bailiff from 1948 to 1984 and his grandfather served in
the Cleveland police department from 1921 to 1951. Michael's
current responsibilities in the administrative services
department include being a project leader to review current
court programs to improve and modernize them. Since 1988, he
has also been responsible for the design and implementation
of the court's computerization [CIJIS]. He also has
participated in ``Bailiff Basic Training'' through the Ohio
Peace Officer Training Council as well.
Michael is equally committed to his family and his
community. The father of Colleen, Kevin, Kathleen, and Megan,
and husband for 18 years to Maureen, Michael devotes his time
to St. Christopher Catholic Church, Ohio Association of Court
Administrators, Normandy Nursing Home, Rocky River Municipal
Court Security Advisory Committee, and still finds them to
coach girls softball among other activities.
In his ``free'' time he enjoys traveling, hiking, canoeing,
and family camping. He loves spending time working on his
home computer which translates into better service to the
Court.
Deborah Jean Fleischer, Deborah Jean Fleischer has spent
the last 27 years of her life working for the Cuyahoga County
Probate Court. At the age of 19, she assumed her first
position with probate court in the docket department. Ten
years later she transferred to the order department where she
would eventually become supervisor in 1987. Prior to this
position, Debarah worked part-time in a gift shop at
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport while still attending
high school.
Her duties at the court include: Certifying court
documents; preparing court records for filing in the Court of
Appeals; doing genealogical research; and assisting the
general public when necessary.
Deborah has always been involved with her community. She
was a volunteer for the project learn organization which
helped teach illiterate adults to read. She volunteers
through her church to help deliver food to local shelters,
and she is also a very strong animal rights advocate, being
involved in the Berea Animal Rescue Center.
In her spare time, she loves traveling and has visited many
European locales including Italy, Austria, Zurich, and
Switzerland. Traveling isn't the only thing she loves to do;
she has a love of animals for which her neighbors can attest.
She can often be seen
[[Page E207]]
picking up stray animals and taking them home for care.
John P. Garmone, as clerk of court for the Lyndhurst
Municipal Court, John Garmone is responsible for the
preparation and maintenance of the docket, general index and
other court records. He is also responsible for collecting
all monies payable to the clerk's office including fines,
court costs and fees, bail, garnishments, bank attachments
and trusteeships. In addition to signing and issuing arrest
warrants, John also supervises a staff of seven full-time
deputy clerks and two part-time deputy clerks.
After graduating in 1974 from Cleveland State with a
bachelor of science degree, John immediately took a position
with the municipal court in Cleveland as chief deputy clerk.
John also was a bail investigator with the Cuyahoga County
Bail Commissions interviewing and recruiting county prisoners
for probationary diversion programs.
John lists his being a past president of Northeastern Ohio
Municipal Court Clerks Association in 1993 as one of his
outstanding accomplishments.
Married to Kathleen for nearly 3 years, he enjoys music and
the theater and trying ``to keep his wife in the style of
living to which she has become accustomed.'' John also states
that, ``Trying to treat everyone as I would appreciate
whether they are the public, coworkers, whomever and keep a
sense of humor while doing it''. John describes a typical day
as, ``Everyday is a Joke! And I would not have it any other
way''.
Rosanne M. O'Brien, born in Washington Island, WI, Rosanne
O'Brien took a position with Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
in her senior year of high school as part of a career class.
While holding a number of positions such as general clerk,
numbering clerk, docketing clerk, and senior clerk typist
since 1972. Her current position, assistant courtroom
coordinator, is her most challenging yet. She is responsible
for scheduling and reviewing cases prior to court and must
speak with probation officers, attorneys, and clients to
assure a smooth hearing in the courtroom. With such a
diversified background, it is no wonder she has been
nominated for employee of the year five times.
Rosanne is also very committed to her community, being a
campaign volunteer for the American Cancer Society, American
Heart Association, American Lung Association, Easter Seals
and United Way. On the political side, she is also an elected
precinct committee member and Chairperson for membership and
attendance with the Lakewood Democratic Club.
Rosanne and her husband, James, have enjoyed over 18 years
of marriage. Her two golden retrievers, Sandy and Dusty, keep
her busy when she's not bowling or doing needle crafts.
Fred W. Papay, born in Cleveland, Fred. W. Papay graduated
from West Technical High School. He began his work with the
Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts at the age of 24 in 1971.
Nominated by Gerald E. Fuerst, clerk of courts for Cuyahoga
County, Fred W. Papay is chief filing clerk. His
responsibilities include overseeing all of the filing for
both civil and divorce cases, and all subsequent pleadings in
those cases.
A sergeant with the U.S. Air Force for 3 years, Fred is a
Vietnam war veteran. After serving his country, he remained
on inactive duty for another 2 years.
When Fred is not busy at work filing court documents, he
enjoys sports. Fred is also an avid collector of any type of
sports memorabilia. He says that in addition to his
fascination with sports, he loves to collect elephant
statues.
Maryellen Reddy, as a journal clerk/court community service
liaison in Cuyahoga County domestic relations court for over
20 years, Maryellen Reddy has a wide range of job
responsibilities. Her position requires her to review all
journal entries prior to any hearings or the judges'
signature. She also makes sure that all documents required by
the State or local rules are attached to all entries. She
monitors all contempt of court cases with the court's orders
for compliance with the court community service.
Maryellen has been active in the political arena as well as
being an executive board committee member of the Democratic
Precinct, Ward 19.
An avid Cleveland sports fan, Maryellen is proud of the
fact that she has been an eighteen year season ticket holder
in the ``Dawg Pound''. She also enjoys Cleveland baseball,
having season tickets for the Cleveland Indians. In her
leisure time, Maryellen enjoys spending time with her family
and cuddling up to a good book.
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