[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF DARIEN'S 2000 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dee Leverson, the 2000 
Citizen of the Year for Darien, IL.
  The city of Darien is at the heart of Illinois' 13th Congressional 
District. It is a central crossroads for a growing region. And its 
residents continue to work hard to live up to the city's understated 
motto--``a nice place to live.''
  Sometimes, though, that is a tall order. We all know that civic 
involvement is declining. Even the pillars of our communities, such as 
the Parent Teachers Association and the Boy Scouts, are experiencing 
declining rates of participation.
  But we also know that there are those in our communities that set a 
shining example to which we all should aspire. Dee Leverson is one of 
those people.
  When one looks at all that Dee has done for Darien, it becomes clear 
why she was selected as Darien's 2000 Citizen of the Year. She helped 
found the Darien Women's Club. She assisted in organizing the Darien 
Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Darienfest committee for several 
years, including two as its cochairperson. She then served as 
chairperson of Darien Day for 2 years as well.
  In between all of that, Dee somehow found time to serve on the 
committee for the first Darien Bookmobile, was active in the Lace 
School PTA, was a Cub Scout leader, and coowned and operated a women's 
apparel store in Darien. She also served as a cochairman for the first 
Cystic Fibrosis drive in the area and helped her husband, Ron, launch 
the Darien Lion's Club needy family drive.
  However, I could not sum up what Dee has meant to Darien better than 
what her own neighbors said about her.
  They wrote: ``Dee exemplifies what good citizenship is. Her strong 
commitment to home, family, community, and the less fortunate make her 
an outstanding candidate for Citizen of the Year.''
  I could not agree more. Dee is the kind of person who keeps our 
communities vibrant and alive. Congratulations to Dee Leverson, 
Darien's 2000 Citizen of the Year. She has made Darien much more than a 
``nice place to live.''

                          ____________________