[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 45 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MRS. KATHERINE G. HEIDEMAN'S 90TH BIRTHDAY

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to recognize Mrs. Katherine 
Grayson Graham Heideman, resident of Hancock, MI, who today is 
celebrating her 90th birthday. It is my pleasure to honor her not only 
for having reached this landmark birthday, which is quite an 
accomplishment in itself, but also, and I think more importantly, for 
having lived her life in a manner truly worthy of commendation.
  Mrs. Heideman was born in Audubon, Iowa, the daughter of Katherine 
Grayson Brown and James Melville Graham. She was the youngest of six 
daughters. After attending high school in Audubon, she headed out west 
to continue her education, first receiving a B.A. from the University 
of California-Los Angeles in 1931, and then in 1934 earning an M.A. 
from the University of Southern California. For the next twenty years, 
Mrs. Heideman taught English literature classes to intermediate 
students in four different states: California, Michigan, Illinois, and 
the District of Columbia.
  On July 6, 1934, Katherine married Bert Heideman. The couple remained 
together until in 1991, when Mr. Heideman passed away. They had three 
children together, Eric, Bert, and Eric. The eldest child unfortunately 
died just six months after he was born, and Mr. and Mrs. Heideman named 
their third child in his honor and memory.
  In 1958, Mrs. Heideman became the first woman to be named Houghton 
County, Michigan, Superintendent of Schools. She served in this 
capacity for four years, then spent twelve years as Superintendent of 
the Copper Country Intermediate School System, which includes Houghton, 
Baraga, and Keweenaw counties. During these years, Mrs. Heideman was a 
pioneer in developing special education initiatives. All of her efforts 
culminated in 1974, when the Heideman Bill, HB5013, was passed into law 
in the State of Michigan. This law made it possible for an intermediate 
school district to own and operate a school for handicapped children.
  In 1982, Mrs. Heideman was elected to the Hancock City Council, and 
there she has continued to fight not only for the rights of disabled 
individuals, but also for the environment and the historic preservation 
of Houghton county. She is the author of a resolution forbidding any 
nuclear or toxic waste to be transported through the city of Hancock, 
and of a resolution condemning the dumping of iron ore tailings into 
Lake Superior. Mrs. Heideman was a charter member of the Hancock 
Historic Preservation Commission, and continues to be a strong voice in 
the efforts to retain the city's old world charm. She has played an 
instrumental role in the attempt to get the city of Hancock recognized 
as being the Finnish American culture center of the United States. And, 
due to her efforts, a sister city relationship was formed with the 
citizens of Porvoo, Finland. A candidate seven times, she now begins 
her eighteenth year representing the first ward.
  Mr. President, I applaud Mrs. Heideman for her selfless dedication to 
improving the quality of life for individuals not only in the city of 
Hancock, but the entire State of Michigan. She is a remarkable woman 
and a true role model. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I 
wish Mrs. Heideman a happy ninetieth birthday, and best of luck in the 
future.

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