[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING BOWLING GREEN MAYOR WES HOFFMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional elder 
statesman in my district. Bowling Green Mayor Wes Hoffman retires from 
public office at the end of this year. A native of Philadelphia, Mayor 
Hoffman served first his country and then his community.
  Wes' pursuit of a college degree at the University of Pennsylvania's 
Wharton School was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the 
Army Air Corps in 1943. After his heroic service in the war ended, Wes 
decided to pursue a career with the Army Air Corps, retiring from the 
United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. Throughout his 
military service, both during World War II and as a career officer, Wes 
served our nation with honor and distinction, earning the Distinguished 
Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal 
with five Battle Stars, the Air Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal 
both with Oak Leaf Cluster.
  After retiring from the Air Force, Wes decided to pursue additional 
higher education at Bowling Green State University, where he obtained a 
Masters Degree in 1971. In 1972, he began his public service with the 
City of Bowling Green as the Safety Service Director and later, in 
1974, as the city's first Municipal Administrator. He retired in 1988. 
His retirement was short-lived, however, as he was approached by local 
leaders and urged to run for Mayor in 1991. He was elected in 1992, re-
elected in 1995, and now retires from official business. Of his tenure, 
Mayor Hoffman noted, ``It has indeed been a privilege for me to have 
been a part of the deliberations and decision-making processes that 
have contributed to civic betterment and community well-being.'' Truly, 
the city of Bowling Green has grown, prospered and flourished under 
Wes' tutelage.
  Visionary, patriotic, mindful of the needs of others, Wes Hoffman is 
a true community leader. His good deeds have not gone unnoticed, and he 
has been honored with awards and recognitions too numerous to mention 
from local, state, and national organizations. He is also a proud 
member of several veterans organizations, civic groups, educational and 
humanitarian organizations, and government consortiums. I know that 
even though Wes is retiring from ``active'' public life, he will remain 
very much in the thick of life in Bowling Green and Northwest Ohio. We 
wish him an enjoyable retirement, spent with family and friends, and 
doing all those things he put off until tomorrow. For people in our 
community, Wes Hoffman embodies the finest tradition of service before 
self that lies at the heart of America's nationhood.

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