[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO K. ROSS CHILDS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS COUNTY 
           ADMINISTRATOR FOR GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MICHIGAN

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to a dedicated 
public servant, K. Ross Childs, who is retiring after serving as County 
Administrator for Grand Traverse County, Michigan, since 1976. Ross 
will be honored on January 5 at a special celebration in Traverse City 
by the many friends and colleagues he has touched in his long career.
  A review of Ross' professional resume reveals an individual who 
acquired a broad base of skills that ably suited him for the job of 
county administrator. A Canadian citizen by birth, he did his 
undergraduate studies in the community of Owen Sound, Ontario. He came 
to the U.S. in 1955 to earn an engineering degree at the University of 
Michigan, and his postgraduate studies included courses in engineering, 
business administration and public administration at U. of M. and 
Detroit's Wayne State University.
  This resume also reveals an administrator who recognized that being 
in charge of a diverse and growing county required close coordination 
with local public and private organizations. At various times Ross has 
served as a member or officer of, among others, the Michigan Leadership 
Institute, the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation, 
Leadership Grand Traverse, the Traverse Bay Economic Development 
Authority, the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the 
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, National City Bank, Blue Cross 
Blue Shield, and Munson Medical Center. Ross has also been extremely 
active in Rotary International and will serve as district governor for 
2002-2003.
  But, Mr. Speaker, when I worked with Ross Childs, I wasn't working 
with a resume or a list of titles. I worked with a dedicated public 
servant, a man who was a consumate advocate for his Grand Traverse 
County, whether he was laboring on behalf of an individual or for the 
county's largest employer, Munson Healthcare.
  I have worked with Ross on numerous issues, including funding for a 
new airport terminal at Cherry Capital Airport, funding for roads in 
the county, and projects at the Coast Guard air station in Traverse 
City. In between dealing with major projects or problems, I always knew 
that when the National Association of Counties met in Washington, D.C., 
Ross would arrive with a list of county issues for me to work on.
  Ross and his wife Helen have two daughters, Mary and Susan. As a 
change from our usual meetings in Washington, it was a pleasure for my 
staff and me to be able to show Ross, Helen and Susan some of the 
sights of this great city when they came here on a family visit.
  That doesn't mean we haven't had our differences, Mr. Speaker. I ask 
you to recall that Ross in an alumni of the University of Michigan, a 
school he not only attended but represented on the hockey rink. Waving 
those Michigan school colors of maize and blue in front of a Michigan 
State supporter like me is like waving the proverbial red flag in front 
of a bull.
  Mr. Speaker, let me add a personal note of appreciation. Ross and 
Helen lost their son Scott, a hockey player like his father, in an auto 
accident some years ago. When my own son BJ died last year, Ross was 
there at the funeral to lend his support. We share a profound loss that 
never quite heals, and I will always remember and appreciate his true 
expression of sympathy and genuine concern.
  So, Mr. Speaker, K. Ross Childs is giving up the reins of power in 
Grand Traverse County, and in one of his final acts as administrator he 
has helped hire and mentor Dennis Aloia, who comes from Marquette in 
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a U.P. resident myself, I am 
pleased to see that Ross has learned what a great value and resource 
the U.P. can be for Grand Traverse County.
  While Ross may be leaving his post as county administrator, he will 
remain active in northern Michigan as regional governor of Rotary, a 
organization to which he has been extremely dedicated for many years.
  I ask you, Mr. Speaker, and our House colleagues to join me in 
congratulating this public servant on a job well done and in wishing 
Ross and Helen Childs the best in their retirement years.

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