[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 106 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1509-E1510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRESSMAN KILDEE HONORS CHIEF MARLAN HILLMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 1997

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise before 
you today to pay tribute to Chief Marlan Hillman who is retiring after 
50 years of dedicated service to the Springfield Township Fire 
Department.
  Since the establishment of the Springfield Township Fire Department 
in 1947, Chief Hillman has been a devoted firefighter and mentor. He 
has always taken the time to share his experience and wisdom with the 
dozens of firefighters he has worked with. Marlan Hillman is well known 
for his leadership, faith, and devotion to public service. At a very 
early age, Marlan was taught the importance of serving his community by 
his father, Charles, who served as Springfield's first

[[Page E1510]]

fire chief. Marlan succeeded his father as fire chief in 1975 and has 
witnessed the growth of the fire department with the addition of two 
new fire stations and nine new fire trucks.
  In Springfield Township, the name Hillman has become synonymous with 
firefighting. Chief Hillman's brother Elwyn, who is assistant fire 
chief, and his son-in-laws Charles Oaks and Earl Colloto are all 
members of the fire department. Chief Hillman is a hero not only for 
his lengthy and diligent service as a firefighter, but for the 
sacrifices he has made. He has missed only a few fire department 
meetings in 50 years, he has been called to the scene in the middle of 
the night, and he has missed a number of hot meals. Chief Hillman did 
this with a humble disposition and sense of duty. One of the legacies 
he has left is the sense of camaraderie which helped mold the 
firefighters into the close-knit group they remain today.
  We owe Chief Hillman a debt of gratitude for the protection and 
stability he has provided for half a century. Without a doubt, our 
community is a much better place in which to live because of him. The 
people of Springfield Township have truly been blessed to have a man of 
Chief Hillman's caliber working on their behalf.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request that my colleagues in the House 
of Representatives join me in wishing Chief Hillman and his lovely wife 
Norma much joy in their retirement

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