[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL J. BURKE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2001

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Michael 
Burke, a community leader, a friend and a constituent who passed away 
on December 6.
  Mike was a managing partner of the Cincinnati law firm of Keating 
Muething and Klekamp, PLL, and Chairman of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer of KMK Consulting Company, LLC. He was dedicated, 
giving, and generous. One of the founders of the law firm, John 
Muething, said of Mike, ``He was a true leader . . . and a constant 
source of energy and inspiration to others . . .'' Don Klekamp, a 
partner of Mike's for 33 years, recalled that ``Mike was an outstanding 
entrepreneurial business lawyer, but he was more than a lawyer to 
clients. He was a confidant and trusted advisor.''
  Very active in his community, Mike was President of Our Lord Christ 
the King Parish Council, President of the Education Committee, and co-
chaired its Capital Campaign to build a parish center. At Ursuline 
Academy of Cincinnati, Mike was Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 
Chairman of the Long Tenn Planning Committee, and Chairman of the first 
Capital Campaign. In 1998, I had the honor of helping to present Mike 
with the Heart of Gold Award by Boys Hope/Girls Hope. He was also 
honored as Man of the Year by the Cincinnati Club of the University of 
Notre Dame.
  A graduate of Newport Central Catholic High School, Mike received his 
B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from the 
University of Cincinnati, where he was a member of the Order of the 
Coif. He was devoted to his wife, Marcia, and their five children: 
Tricia, Jennifer, Michael, Brian and Anne.
  A close friend, Jim McGraw, managing partner of KMK Consulting, said, 
``While his journey was cut short, [Mike's] incredible spirit is 
forever ingrained in the lives of all who worked beside him.'' All of 
us who were so enriched by Mike's energy, courage and faith will miss 
him.

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