[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S6912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RETIREMENT OF MR. A. GERALD ERICKSON

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I would like to take a few 
minutes today to recognize a gentleman who is retiring from a 
distinguished career as President of the Chicago-based Metropolitan 
Family Services, Mr. A. Gerald Erickson. In his 27 years as President 
of this valuable agency, Jerry Erickson has demonstrated an outstanding 
level of commitment to under-served families and individuals in 
Chicago. Under his leadership, Metropolitan Family Services has a 
record of great accomplishments in improving the opportunities and 
quality of life for thousands of low-income Chicagoans.
  In 1958, Jerry Erickson began his career with the agency, then known 
as United Charities, as a social worker fresh out of school and a two 
year stint in the Army. After earning a Master's Degree in Social Work 
from the University of Chicago in 1960, Jerry remained with United 
Charities full time, and in 1971 became President.
  Two and a half years ago, and a quarter of a century into Mr. 
Erickson's tenure, United Charities changed its name to Metropolitan 
Family Services. Through this and many other organizational changes 
over the years, Jerry Erickson has remained steadfastly committed to 
serving the under-privileged residents of the Chicago metropolitan 
area.
  As Chicago's oldest and largest non-sectarian social services 
organization, Metropolitan Family Services provides services ranging 
from family counseling to financial education for more than 100,000 
families in the Chicago area. The agency operates on an annual budget 
of approximately $22 million, and has recently concluded a successful 
$15 million private fundraising campaign. The success of the 
organization can be attributed to the committed hard work of all of the 
agency's staff, and to great leadership from Jerry Erickson. Through 
their efforts, the agency's future will be bright and long-lasting.
  Through out his career, Jerry Erickson has carried himself in a soft-
spoken, modest manner which has led many of his colleagues in the field 
of social work to refer to him as the ``Jimmy Stewart of social 
services.'' Now, in classic Jerry Erickson character, he is quietly 
retiring as the President of Metropolitan Family Services and is 
passing the reigns on to a successor he helped choose.
  Those who know and work with Jerry Erickson should be heartened by 
his promise to continue to work as a consultant to social service 
agencies. And Jerry's successor, Richard Jones, Ph.D., is highly 
qualified and committed to continuing and expanding the great work of 
Metropolitan Family Services.
  Through his work with Metropolitan Family Services, as well as his 
participation and leadership in various national social services task 
forces, associations, and alliances, Jerry Erickson has well earned his 
reputation as a national leader in social work. Jerry Erickson's work 
is a model of service for all Americans to follow, and I commend his 
lasting commitment to serving the most vulnerable in our society.
  On behalf of all the lives he has touched in his outstanding career 
with Metropolitan Family Services, I want to thank him and wish him 
good luck and Godspeed in all of his new endeavors.




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