[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING RUTH CALVERT FITZGERALD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ruth Calvert 
Fitzgerald, the president and CEO of the Will County Chamber of 
Commerce in Joliet, Illinois as she resigns from her position of twelve 
years. Ruth is relocating to California with her husband, Joe, in 
pursuit of her passion to design jewelry.
  Ruth made a decision in 1985 to leave her position in Spartanburg, 
South Carolina to take on the task of rebuilding a badly damaged local 
economy in Will County, Illinois. Ruth has an uncanny ability to forge 
relationships with people, setting the foundation on which to build the 
alliance and networks necessary for progress. Solidifying a ring of 
support from local government officials, community leaders, and private 
citizens, Ruth engineered an economic recovery program which serves as 
a model for any community working to rebuild. Ruth has stressed the 
Joliet and Will County communities away from impending economic 
destruction to become what is now the fastest growing county in 
Illinois.
  With Ruth at the helm, Will County has seen 1000 new businesses 
locate in Will County. In addition, 300 existing companies have 
expanded their operations, creating a net increase of 45,000 new jobs. 
Under Ruth's leadership, the Will County Center for Economic 
Development has positioned itself as a major force both locally and 
nationally. Overseeing the largest privately funded economic 
development program over attempted in Illinois, Ruth has amassed quite 
a list of highlights for the Will County CED. While being named one of 
our nations top ten economic development groups by the Industrial 
Development Research Council, the Will County CED engineered efforts to 
pass local school referendums, launched a global marketing campaign, 
created Will County's first comprehensive shelter for the homeless, and 
created the Will County Chamber of Commerce as a vehicle to impact 
public policy.
  Our community is dearly indebted to Ruth and will benefit from her 
hard work and successes for many generations. Mr. Speaker, today I 
honor Ruth for her vision to believe in our community when many turned 
their backs, her ability to take an idea from conception to completion 
and most certainly for the honorable way in which she has conducted 
herself. I wish Ruth and her family all the best life can provide as 
she begins another chapter in her success story. Laguna Niguel, 
California is gaining a tremendous servant.

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