[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1040-E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           TRIBUTE TO RANCE LEADERS OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 5, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a moment today 
to point out to my colleagues someone in my district who epitomizes the 
dedication and commonsense leadership we all should value in our local 
government officials. On Friday, June 12, 1998, Rance Leaders will 
retire as City Manager of Battle Creek, Michigan, after serving with 
distinction for 10 years. Today, our community will salute Mr. Leaders 
with a gala retirement celebration for his years of service to Battle 
Creek.
  Mr. Leaders has served the people of Battle Creek, Michigan, for 18 
years, first starting as Assistant City Manager in 1980. When Gordon 
Jaeger retired in 1988, the City Commission,

[[Page E1041]]

then led by Mayor Al Bobrofsky, selected Mr. Leaders as Battle Creek's 
City Manager, effective June 1, 1988. Rance served our country in the 
United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam Conflict and also worked 
for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development prior to 
working for the city of Battle Creek.
  Tonight's salute, dubbed ``Operation Compass,'' honors an outstanding 
leader in the community. I wholeheartedly believe that Mr. Leaders is 
deserving of such recognition for its leading role in revitalizing 
Battle Creek--the best-known city of its size anywhere in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, I'm pretty proud of Battle Creek. The town, 
as millions of Americans know, is affectionately called the ``Cereal 
City,'' because it is the birthplace of modern breakfast cereal. It was 
once home to over 100 cereal companies and today is home of the world 
headquarters of the Kellogg Company.
  Mr. Leaders has been a key catalyst for many positive changes within 
the City. He has worked to create better partnerships with regional 
units of government and most of all among the citizens of Battle Creek. 
Today, according to some surveys, citizens' trust in city government 
has risen from 45 percent in 1990 to 83 percent in 1997. One of his 
favorite sayings might be one any leader should remember--especially 
here in Congress--``None of us is as smart as all of us.''
  Rance worked to strengthen Battle Creek's global reputation by 
working in collaboration with all parties to continue to attract 
business to Battle Creek's Fort Custer Industrial Park. Most recently, 
I was honored to join city officials as Western Michigan University 
opened its elite International Pilot Training Center in Battle Creek to 
train airplane pilots from all over the world.
  Rance also worked on several projects including the Emmett Street 
overpass, Full Blast, a premier youth recreation facility, removal of 
the pedestrian mall to increase economic development in the downtown 
area, and most recently, Kellogg's Cereal City U.S.A., a museum 
recognizing Battle Creek's breakfast cereal heritage.
  I personally have had the pleasure of working closely with Rance 
Leaders since 1993 when the Department of Defense sought to close 
several agencies at the Federal Center located in downtown Battle 
Creek. Rance helped us convince the Department of Defense that the work 
performed at the facility was cost-effective and at a lower cost than 
that cited by the federal government. Because of our coalition's 
efforts, the Federal Center remains in Battle Creek and its operations 
are expanding.
  As other cities have faltered, the transformation that Battle Creek 
has experienced over the last 10 years is nothing short of miraculous. 
Rance Leaders deserves much praise and recognition for his 
accomplishments. And there is so much more that I could highlight. But 
perhaps it will suffice to say that Rance Leaders truly exemplifies the 
spirit of Battle Creek, a city that will continue to thrive due in no 
small part to his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, and on behalf of the citizens 
of Battle Creek, I am very proud to offer this tribute to Rance 
Leaders, retiring City Manager of Battle Creek, Michigan. I know that 
Rance enjoys sailing and may take some time to explore other areas of 
our world. But all of us hope he stays anchored in Battle Creek.
  Thank you, Rance, and good luck. Bonnie and I wish you the very best.

                          ____________________