[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING RICHARD WINKEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 1998

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and 
dedication of Richard ``Dick'' Winkel who retired after 29 years of 
service from the elected position of Kankakee County Auditor on 
December 31, 1997. Dick Winkel has continuously served the most terms, 
eight in all, of any county auditor in the history of the state of 
Illinois.
  When Dick Winkel first took office in 1968, computers were just 
beginning to be utilized. In 1968, the computer at the auditor's office 
was the size of a large refrigerator and had to be housed in the 
basement of the County Building. The old system required a $23,000 
climate control system to keep it running. Today, thanks to Dick 
Winkel, the new system includes built-in safeguards to prevent the 
county from ever experiencing a computer melt-down that would wipe out 
months of accounting work.
  Dick and his wife Betty are the proud parents of four children and 
the proud grandparents of 17 children. Dick has always followed his 
father's ideals about the important things in life; family, God, and 
the political climate in which you live. According to Dick, ``You have 
to be an active participant with all three. If you don't participate in 
politics, you deserve what you get.''
  Dick Winkel's commitment and impact on his community is not only 
deserving of congressional recognition, but should serve as a model for 
others to follow.
  At a time when our nation's leaders are asking the people of this 
country to make serving their community a core value of citizenship, 
honoring Dick Winkel is both timely and appropriate.
  I urge this body to identify and recognize others in their 
congressional districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and 
enlightened America's communities.

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