[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E564-E565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO COLLEEN SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 21, 1997

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colleen Smith of 
Bowling Green,

[[Page E565]]

OH, who has retired as the city's administrator. Throughout her 
distinguished tenure, she was a model of a dedicated public servant.
  Colleen began working for the city of Bowling Green in 1967 as a 
bookkeeper, monitoring maintenance costs of city vehicles. Working her 
way up through the municipal structure, she became the city's municipal 
administrator in 1989. As a testament to her talent and commitment to 
fiscal responsibility, the city's books held no operating debt upon her 
retirement.
  In addition to leaving Bowling Green on sound financial grounds, 
Colleen may take pride in her retirement in knowing she played a key 
leadership role in the development and promotion of her community. As 
assistant municipal administrator and later as municipal administrator, 
she helped revitalize the downtown area and aggressively assisted in 
economic development. She was involved in recruiting commercial and 
industrial business and in negotiating an enterprise zone agreement 
between business, industry, and government. Ever mindful that a 
community is more than simply a collection of business enterprises, 
Colleen worked to ensure Bowling Green remained the warm and pleasant 
place to live and visit it has always been. Her efforts have grown 
trees, parks, and playgrounds which people have enjoyed and will for 
generations to come. She helped make Bowling Green a true slice of 
Middle America.
  More than a municipal employee, Colleen expanded the boundaries of 
public servant by committing her time and talent to various volunteer 
groups and charities: the American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy 
Association, and Arthritis Foundation to name a few. For her selfless 
efforts, Colleen was honored and recognized by many civic and community 
organizations. The recognition culminated in 1996, when she received an 
honorary alumnus degree from Bowling Green State University for a 
lifetime of achievement and civic-mindedness.
  The English poet/philosopher John Donne wrote that ``no man is an 
island, entire of itself'' by which he meant that every person touches 
every other living being. Colleen Smith is an example of this 
sentiment. Although retiring from public service, I am certain she will 
carry on in the ideal of Donne's philosophy for many years to come. I 
know my colleagues join me in thanking Colleen Smith for 30 years of 
dedicated service, and wish her an enriching retirement.

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