[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1803-E1804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS TOUCHETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 1997

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, 60 days ago today on July 18, 1997, the 
people of the St. Louis metropolitan area and the people of 
southwestern Illinois lost a great leader and I lost a good friend. 
Francis Touchette passed away on July 18, 1997, at the age of 84 after 
a long illness.
  During this period, I have had time to reflect on his legacy of 
service and on our friendship.

[[Page E1804]]

Francis Touchette was both a dedicated public servant and a 
humanitarian.
  Francis started his career when he was elected to the office of 
Democratic precinct committeeman when Franklin Roosevelt was elected 
President of the United States. In addition to serving as a Democratic 
precinct committeeman for many years, Francis was elected Centreville 
Township supervisor and was elected to serve as a member of the county 
board from Centreville Township. On two separate occasions during his 
career on the county board, his colleagues saw fit to elect Francis to 
serve as their chairman.
  In addition to being one of the leading Democrats in southwestern and 
southern Illinois, Francis was one of the leaders in providing health 
care and other services to the underprivileged and the poor throughout 
the region.
  Francis was the founder of Centreville township Hospital--later 
renamed Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, IL. As Centreville 
Township supervisor, he recognized that the underprivileged and the 
poor were not receiving adequate health care services and therefore 
called upon the people of the township to construct a hospital for 
people in the Greater Centreville area. He was a charter member of the 
East Side Health District and founded the Southern Illinois Health Care 
Foundation.
  Very few people have touched and improved the lives of so many as 
Francis Touchette. His service to the people of the St. Louis region 
and of southwestern Illinois will live on--and his friendship that he 
extended to me and many others will never be forgotten.
  My colleagues, I ask you to join me in paying tribute to a great 
friend and a great leader.

                          ____________________