[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H739-H740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INFORMING MEMBERS OF THE PASSING OF H. EDWARD DREIER, JR.

  (Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include 
extraneous matter.)
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me to inform the 
House of the passing of a dear friend and constituent, Ed Dreier, who 
is the father of our colleague, the gentleman from California [David 
Dreier].
  H. Edward Dreier, Junior, was a pioneer in the housing industry in 
Kansas City. Forty-five years ago this month he incorporated his real 
estate development, construction, and property management business and 
began service on the first commission on human relations to implement 
integration laws for housing in our community.
  One and one-half weeks ago, David accepted for his father the Crystal 
Merit Award, honoring excellent in the apartment industry. Mr. Dreier 
was very active in the civic community, including serving as president 
and chairman of the Lyric Opera Company of Kansas City, and was an 
original member of the Westport Allen Center board of trustees.
  He had many friends here in the House, from the gentleman from New

[[Page H740]]

York [Charlie Rangel] and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Joe 
Moakley] to his fellow marines, the gentleman from New York [Amo 
Houghton] and [Jerry Solomon]. Our thoughts and prayers are with David 
and his family during this most difficult time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to this fine citizen whose 
contributions, through public service, will be remembered by those 
whose lives he touched.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record newspaper articles concerning 
Mr. Dreier's passing.
  The material referred to follows:

                    Area Real Estate Developer Dies

                            (By Mark Davis)

       H. Edward Dreier Jr. of Kansas City, an area builder and 
     property manager, died Monday. He was 69.
       Dreier founded his real estate development, construction 
     and property management company 45 years ago in Kansas City. 
     Dreier Management Co. built and continues to manage several 
     area apartment buildings.
       Dreier also was active in Kansas City's civic community, 
     though he hadn't received much public notice for this work.
       ``He'll be badly missed by the Midtown community,'' said 
     the Rev. Roger Coleman, executive director of the Westport 
     Allen Center.
       Coleman said Dreier was an original member of the center's 
     board of trustees, formed in 1983. He also had supported 
     its earlier efforts to buy and renovate an abandoned 
     school.
       The former school at 706 W. 42nd St. now provides an 
     activity center and offices for many nonprofit groups, 
     including the State Ballet of Missouri and Narcotics 
     Anonymous.
       ``He loved the tenants here like he loved the tenants in 
     his apartments down the street,'' Coleman said. ``It sounds 
     selfish, but we had such plans for him.''
       Coleman said Dreier stood out even among the other board 
     members. Dreier not only raised money but also participated 
     in the center's activities and made himself available when 
     Coleman called for help.
       Dreier also was president of the board of directors of the 
     Lyric Opera of Kansas City in its 1981-82 season and served 
     on the board since 1976.
       Last month, Dreier received the Crystal Merit Award from 
     the Apartment Association of Kansas City. The award honored 
     Dreier as the area's best property supervisor for 1996.
       Dreier's health kept him from the Feb. 21 award ceremony 
     and his son, U.S. Rep. David Dreier of California, accepted 
     the award. David Dreier said he plans to become more involved 
     in the company and believed his mother also would take a 
     greater role.
       ``Public service was always a priority for him,'' said 
     David Dreier, noting that his father had served on Kansas 
     City's first commission on human relations in the 1950s.
       Survivors include his wife, Joyce Yeomans Dreier, of the 
     home; his son, David Dreier, San Dimas, Calif.; daughters, 
     Denise Dreier Despars, Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Dana Dreier 
     Lamont, Aurora, Ill.; a sister, Carolee Atha, Mission Hills; 
     and two grandchildren.
       Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Stine & McClure 
     Funeral Home at 3235 Gillham Plaza. No burial services are 
     planned.

                         H. Edward Dreier, Jr.

       H. Edward Dreier, Jr., Kansas City, MO, passed away Monday, 
     March 3, 1997. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. 
     Thursday, March 6, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Stine & McClure 
     Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of 
     flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made 
     to a charity of the donor's choice.
       Mr. Dreier attended Pembroke Hill School, Kemper Military 
     Academy, and graduated from Southwest High School in 1946. He 
     was a drill instructor with the U.S. Marine Corps, and 
     graduated in 1952 from Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, 
     CA. He was President of H.E. Dreier, Jr., Inc., a real estate 
     development and property management firm. In 1953, he was 
     appointed by H. Roe Bartle to the Commission on Human 
     Relations. He served as President of the Great Oaks Nursing 
     Home. He also served on the Planning Commission of Fairway, 
     KS, and the Executive Committee of the Sixth Church of 
     Christ, Scientist. He was an officer of the Homebuilders of 
     Greater Kansas City, and was a 45-year member of the Real 
     Estate Board; President of the Lyric Opera Board; Honorary 
     Coach for the NAIA Tennis Tournament; and a member of the 
     Society of Fellows of the Nelson Atkins Museum. Mr. Dreier 
     was a Director of United Missouri Bank, North Region; 
     President of the Dreier Family Foundation; and served on the 
     Executive Committee of the Westport Allen Center. He was a 
     Paul Harris Fellow and Secretary/Treasurer of Rotary Club 13, 
     and a member of the Vanguard Club and Carriage Club. On 
     February 21, 1997, he received the Crystal Merit Award, 
     honoring excellence in the apartment industry for the 
     midwest. In Rancho Mirage, CA, he was a member of the 
     Thunderbird Country Club. The Club at Morningside, and a 
     Patrol of the Friends of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the 
     Desert Museum. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Yeomans 
     Dreier; a son, Congressman David Dreier, Los Angeles; two 
     daughters, Denise Dreier Despars, Hermosa Beach, CA, and Dana 
     Dreier Lamont, Aurora, IL; and two granddaughters, Leslie 
     LaRue Lamont and Lisa Lee Lamont. (Arrangements: D.W. 
     Newcomer's Sons Stine & McClure Chapel)

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