[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. WALTER ZIELONKO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2002

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Walter 
Zielonko of Troy, IL, and the great work he has done for his community 
over the 51 years he has served it.
  Dr. Zielonko was born on February 10, 1923, and was raised in 
Detroit, MI. He worked his way up through medical school and unpaid 
internships, bouncing from town to town until he met his wife, 
Florence, and eventually settled down in the small town of Troy. There 
he served for 51 years, interrupted only by a 14-month tour of Korea as 
a captain of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
  During his time as a general practitioner in Troy, Dr. Zielonko--
affectionately known as ``Dr. Z''--served thousands of patients and 
delivered over 1,400 babies. He has watched the population of Troy grow 
nine times over, and has participated in many local projects, including 
the founding of Anderson Hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Zielonko has reason to be proud of the 
accomplishments in his life--in it he has served both the Troy 
community and his country. His skills have helped people from the 
smallest children to the elderly; from birthing mothers to wounded 
soldiers. His retirement was long in coming and is hard earned; he 
deserves our thanks and our gratitude. May God bless him and his family 
on this special day.

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