[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 108 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES M. SPRAFKA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 28, 1997

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a stellar 
public servant who passed away recently.
  Charles M. Sprafka, a native of Detroit Lakes, MN, and the associate 
Hennepin County administrator for human resources, died on June 24 
following a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, Chuck's career in public service was varied and 
characterized by the pursuit of excellence in every way. The people of 
my home county in Minnesota were well served by his stewardship and 
great desire to help people in their time of need.
  President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address on January 20, 
1961, just outside this Chamber, declared: ``Ask not what your country 
can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' Chuck Sprafka 
did a great deal for his country, Mr. Speaker, and today I want to 
celebrate a dedicated public servant's inspiring commitment to his 
country and the people of Hennepin County he served so well.
  Chuck Sprafka was named Hennepin County personnel director in 1984. 
In 1994, he was named associate county administrator for human 
resources, which made him a member of the Hennepin County 
administration's executive team.
  Mr. Speaker, Chuck's record in public service was exemplary. In 1995, 
he was named recipient of the Twin Cities Personnel Association's 
``Award of Excellence.'' In May of this year, Hennepin County created 
an employee recognition award in his name.
  His fellow workers in Hennepin County called Chuck The Rock. That's 
because, whenever there was a great challenge to be overcome, everyone 
turned to Chuck. His pioneering efforts produced a program called 
Quality Partnership Initiatives, a new county approach to improving the 
quality of service.
  Quality is the theme that comes first to mind when you summarize the 
career of Chuck Sprafka for he truly represented the best in public 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, Chuck was also very active in a numerous community and 
professional organizations, including the Industrial Relations Center 
Advisory Council, Minnesota Chapter of the International Personnel 
Management Association, and the national and Minnesota Public Employer 
Labor Relations Associations. He was also a member of the Human 
Resources Executive Council.
  Chuck was a great high school athlete at Detroit Lakes High School, 
one of the best skaters in that school's history. He loved the 
outdoors, and was an avid sportsman. After receiving a bachelor's 
degree in mathematics and chemistry from Bemidji State University in 
1968, he had a successful career in the business world. He then 
returned to school and earned a master's degree in industrial relations 
from the University of Minnesota in 1972, after which he went to work 
for Hennepin County, Minnesota's most populous county and one of the 
largest employers in the state. During his tenure at the county, he did 
graduate work in public administration at Harvard University.
  Above all, Mr. Speaker, Chuck Sprafka was a dedicated and loving 
husband and father. As his lifelong friend Jon Boisclair put it, 
``Chuck's family meant the world to him, and he loved them dearly.'' 
Chuck will forever be missed by his loving wife, Jeannie, and his 
children, Collette, Rachelle, and Nicholas.
  Mr. Speaker, Chuck Sprafka stood for all that's right with America, 
and his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who were 
fortunate enough to know him.

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