[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO CHARLES LEIDIG, RECIPIENT OF THE 1998 MAPLE LEAF AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention Mr. 
Charles Leidig of Maplewood, New Jersey, who is being honored with the 
1998 Maple Leaf Award on this occasion of the 30th Annual Maple Leaf 
Award Ceremony.
  Charles Leidig is being honored for his many years of extensive, and 
varied community service, especially amongst senior groups, his 
community neighborhood association, and for the Township of Maplewood. 
Charlie has lived in Maplewood since 1920, and has attended Seth Boyden 
Elementary School, Ricalton--now Maplewood Middle School, and Columbia 
High School, from which he graduated in 1937. After attending New York 
University, he worked for a major corporation in the areas of Trade 
Show Coordination, Advertising and Sales Promotion, and Industrial 
Relations. Charlie's work often required extensive travel, with as many 
as 27 trips in one year.
  While he took an interest in his neighborhood and its activities, it 
wasn't until his retirement in 1984 that Charlie became fully involved. 
Following a neighbor's suggestion, Charlie joined one of the Maplewood 
Senior Clubs, the local chapter of the AARP. Almost immediately he 
became heavily involved, serving first as Program Chairman and then as 
Vice-president. He was the group's first President to hold office for 
four years. Even now Charlie continues to serve as Trip Chairman.
  In addition to AARP, the St. Joseph Rainbow Club was another senior 
organization that benefited from Charlie's endless energy and 
imagination. He served as the group's Vice President for two and a half 
years, and in 1992, was honored with the organization's Senior 
Citizen's Award.
  Charlie Leidig has also volunteered his time and talents to Maplewood 
through his service as Director of the Police Advisory Committee, the 
Recreation Advisory Board, the Senior Advisory Board, the Maplewood TV 
Channel Advisory Board, and as an Election Day volunteer at Town Hall. 
Additionally, Charlie has served for many years as a Holiday 
Decorations Judge, a Lions Blood Bank helper, member of the Fourth of 
July Committee, and an Economic Development strategist. Charlie was a 
very active participant in the Ron Karnaugh Olympic activities and most 
recently, served on the Neighborhood Association. He is also volunteers 
as a collector for the American Heart, Cancer, and Cerebral Palsy 
Associations as well as working for the United Way and Deborah 
Hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, the family and 
friends of Charlie Leidig, and the Township of Maplewood in recognizing 
Charlie's many outstanding and invaluable contributions made to the 
community of Maplewood and to the State of New Jersey.

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