[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HEINZ PRECHTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2001

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable citizen 
of Michigan, of our nation, indeed of the world, Heinz Prechter.
  Like so many, many others, I was deeply saddened and shocked at his 
death on July 6. 1 did not know Heinz Prechter well enough to know 
about his inner self. I did not know that he had been fighting the 
illness of depression for many years. I did know him well enough to 
have seen firsthand his immense vitality, his grit, his supreme 
intelligence and his unique curiosity.
  It was only a few weeks ago that he dropped by the office in D.C. for 
a chat. He was very tanned, I thought perhaps from playing golf with 
one or more of the endless luminaries with whom his life was 
intertwined. But our discussion was very down to earth, which was the 
hallmark of Heinz Prechter.
  The day before he had been elected the new Chairman of the U.S. 
Automotive Parts Advisory Committee. He had agreed to take this post, 
even though he knew that he had already overcrowded his schedule with a 
wide variety of other endeavors such as the Global Automotive 
Institute, work on the board of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield 
Village, various projects in the Downriver communities, all in 
addition, of course, to his day to day business dealings. With 
enthusiasm he discussed how he intended to pick up the pace on efforts 
to win for American businesses and workers more equal access to the 
markets of other nations. On this subject, as was true for so many 
others in his life, there was no barrier because he was an active 
Republican talking with a Democratic member of Congress. For him, life 
was a web of different pursuits with changing alliances. He felt that 
he had the best chance to get things moving again, using his impeccable 
credentials in the automotive world and his relationships within the 
political party to which he was dedicated.
  When he was leaving, we put our arms around each others shoulders; 
the last thought in my mind at the time was that I would never see 
again that ball of fire, that bundle of energy.
  His life is an example for all--his dedication to human endeavors and 
relationships.
  May his death serve not only for us to remember him well, as he so 
richly deserves, but also to tackle with the kind of energy he 
possessed the illness, depression, that cost him his life and cost us 
an invaluable citizen and friend. My condolences reach out to the 
entire Prechter family.

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