[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E190-E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF LOWELL F. RUPP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay homage to a man of my 
district, Lowell F. Rupp, who passed from this life on Monday, January 
7, 2002 at the youthful age of 73. Mr. Rupp was a long-time and much 
loved civic and business leader in Fulton County, Ohio.
  Born on a family farm still operational in Fulton County, Mr. Rupp 
eventually purchased the farm from his father. He produced corn, 
soybeans, and wheat, selling the seed as well. Even though I came to 
know him through politics, for me the picture of Mr. Rupp remains with 
the land, for he was a farmer in his very soul.
  Entering German Township politics, he ``sought elective office out of 
a love for people and a desire to make a difference in their lives.'' 
That, indeed, he did. After serving for ten years as a German Township 
Trustee, Mr. Rupp was elected a Fulton County Commissioner. He served 
in that position for sixteen years, retiring at the end of his final 
term in 1994. His tenure as commissioner brought a great deal to the 
residents of Fulton County: he most assuredly did make a difference in 
their lives, improving their livelihoods, bringing positive progress to 
the county and always moving forward. Under his stewardship, the Fulton 
County Courthouse Plaza, a new county health department building and 
senior centers in four regions of the county were established. He 
helped to obtain expansion for water lines into the county and 
improvements to its fairgrounds.
  Those who worked with Mr. Rupp in pursuit of projects benefiting the 
county--myself included--found him to be a most able and honorable man. 
One of his colleagues describes him as a ``rock-ribbed Republican'' who 
never let partisanship get in the way of doing the best job he could 
for the public good and noted, ``He was a gentleman to work with. We 
were both opinionated and agreed to disagree.'' Mr. Rupp practiced a 
style of politics

[[Page E191]]

from which all could take a lesson, and though driven to achieve what 
he thought was right, still understood the art of compromise.
  A man of great yet quiet faith who lived his beliefs, Mr. Rupp was a 
lifelong member of the Evangelical Mennonite Church. He was also a 
member of Gideons International and the Archbold Rotary.
  Lowell Rupp and his wife Ardith celebrated nearly 53 years of 
marriage together. As deeply as he surely loved his family, words can 
do little to assuage the grief felt now by Mrs. Rupp, their children 
Beverly, Pamela, Bruce, Larry, and Leslie, sister, brother, and 
grandchildren. May the tangible legacy he leaves behind in what his 
public service gave to his community help them as they find their way 
now. Lowell Rupp's memory, his talent, his energy, and his service are 
the gifts he has left to his family, and to us. While we are saddened 
at his passing, we are grateful for his life.

                          ____________________