[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1979-E1980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         HONORING PETER DANNER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 1997

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the recipient of the 
1997 Golden Door Award, Mr. Peter Danner. The award will be given 
posthumously to Mr. Danner at the annual dinner meeting of the 
International Institute of Flint on Tuesday, October 14. The 
International Institute of Flint presents this award annually to a 
foreign-born citizen who has substantially improved life in the Flint 
community.
  Peter Danner was born in Hungary in 1931. His family owned a 
wholesale grocery business serving southern Hungary. During World War 
II the business was invaded first by the Germans and then later by the 
Russians who looted the food for the soldiers. After graduating from 
high school Peter joined the Hungarian military. He planned to study 
engineering but the military did not cooperate and he was assigned to 
work in an office.
  In 1956 Peter started his long journey to the United States. Leaving 
Hungary during the

[[Page E1980]]

revolution he arrived in this country on December 24, 1956. Peter often 
reminisced about his arrival on Christmas Eve. He was living in New 
Jersey and the decorations fascinated him. Peter was excited to leave 
behind the drab Communism of Hungary for the bright cheerfulness of his 
new home.
  Pursuing his dream of studying engineering, Peter enrolled in Bard 
College in New York. The lure of abundant jobs with General Motors 
prompted him the move to Flint in 1957. His first job there was not 
with the automotive giant but as a bellboy at the Durant Hotel. Peter 
still held onto his dream and enrolled that same year at the University 
of Detroit. He studied engineering in earnest and eventually graduated 
and became employed by General Motor. He worked as a design engineer 
for many years.
  In 1963 Peter became a U.S. citizen and 1 year later he met and 
married his wife, Martha. They have three children, Dr. Stephanie 
Danner Paluda, Ava Danner, and Nicholas Danner.
  Peter lived his life guided by the principles that family, community, 
education, and harmony of existence were of the utmost importance. His 
involvement with the International Institute of Flint, the Rotary Club 
of Flint, the Boy Scouts, the Saginaw Valley Engineering Council, Holy 
Cross Hungarian Church of Detroit and Most Blessed Sacrament Church 
exemplified his beliefs. Out of his experience as a immigrant forty 
years ago came his compassion for those seeking a new life in this 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I ask the House of 
Representatives to rise with me today and pay tribute to a great 
American, Peter Danner. He will be missed by his family, his friends 
and his community but his legacy lives on.

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