[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 155 (Saturday, December 19, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DONALD H. GILMER, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, MICHIGAN, 63D DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a moment today 
to recognize the long and distinguished career of State Representative 
Donald ``Don'' H. Gilmer. Representative Gilmer, serving his 11th term, 
represents a large portion of Calhoun County, Michigan, in my district. 
Term limits require Representative Gilmer to end his remarkable 
contributions to Michigan public policy as a member of the State House.
  Don graduated from Kellogg High School in Hickory Corners, Michigan. 
He attended Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. 
He was a Kellogg Fellow at Michigan State from 1968 to 1971.
  Representative Gilmer was a member of the Kalamazoo County Board of 
Commissioners from 1973 to 1974, and served as Vice Chairman in 1974. 
He was elected to the Michigan Legislature in the 1974 election.
  He most recently served as Minority Vice Chairman of the Michigan 
House of Representative's Appropriations Committee. On the 
Appropriations Committee he also served as Vice Chairman of the Higher 
Education and the Consumer and Industry Services Subcommittees.
  Don has been a member of the Interstate Migrant Education Council 
since 1985. He also has been a member of the Department of Education's 
Michigan School Finance Commission, the House of Representative's Ad 
Hoc Special Committee on Property Tax and School Finance, and the House 
Republican Task Force on Property Tax and School Finance Reform. In 
April of 1993, Representative Gilmer was appointed to the Midwestern 
Higher Education Commission.
  Representative Gilmer is a member of countless community groups, and 
is especially active with the Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan 
Association for Retarded Citizens, and Planned Parenthood. He was a 
Gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Agricultural Labor Commission.
  Don has an outstanding reputation as a model legislator who has 
common sense solutions to complex problems.
  Mr. Gilmer was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on November 29, 1945. 
Don married Lynn Weimeister November 19, 1988. Don is the father of 
three children and lives in Augusta. Michigan on his family's apple 
orchid, Hillcrest, which he formerly co-owned and operated.
  The work of public service has many rewards. But it also requires 
many sacrifices. Throughout his tenure as representative. Don Gilmer 
never lost his warmth, generosity, and good humor. He is the very model 
of the type of legislator we should have in our state capitals.
  On behalf of the people of Michigan, it is my privilege to honor and 
recognize Don Gilmer for his distinguished contributions to Michigan 
and its people.

                          ____________________