[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1023-E1024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE LIFE STORY OF JOHN A. DROST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 2002

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, one of the basic axioms of 
democracy, one of democracy's fundamental philosophical underpinnings 
is the notion that the life, work, and opinion, of every person counts, 
or, at least, ought to count.
  I firmly believe in that notion: that every person counts and I 
believe in its corollary: that every person can make a difference.
  I want to offer up a life story as illustration of that belief--the 
life story of John A. Drost.
  John Drost was born in 1909 in Czechoslovakia. He went through school 
there earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1932.
  He served in the Czechoslovakian army in the Judge Advocate General's 
Department and assisted in the mobilization of the Czech Army.
  He became associated with a law firm with ties to the exiled 
Czechoslovakian Government in London representing the interests of 
Jewish clients.

[[Page E1024]]

  As a result of his legal work he was arrested jailed and sentenced to 
a Nazi labor camp.
  John, and his new bride Doris, eluded the Gestapo and went 
underground until the end of the war.
  After the war he was pursued by the Communist government and John and 
Doris escaped to Austria where John began work for the Church World 
Organization. Eventually John and his family emigrated to the United 
States.
  John found work as Church Administrator for St. Paul's United Church 
of Christ in Chicago. With the urging and support of church members he 
returned to night school and earned a law degree at the John Marshall 
Law School in Chicago.
  John became the attorney for the Austrian Consulate and also did work 
for the German Consulate General.
  John's own life experiences left John with a feeling of special 
responsibility for families and for family support.
  As a result of his work with St. Paul's Church John became acquainted 
with Uhlich Children's Home--a home which has been supporting children 
and families for over 130 years.
  John assumed a series of ever more responsible positions on the 
Uhlich board where, as a result of his leadership, the board was 
renewed and reenergized and the work of Uhlich was likewise 
strengthened and expanded.
  John passed away in January of this year. But his son, George, and 
others carry on with the mission of providing support and services to 
troubled children and troubled families and which allows every child to 
reach his, or her, fullest potential.
  John Drost made a difference for thousands and he leaves a legacy of 
making a difference.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe an important part of his legacy is the example 
he has left us.
  As John was fond of saying,, ``In a country that gave us a beautiful 
life . . . we had to reciprocate.''

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