[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 111 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF GENE VERDU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
 OF THE SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER 
                                PERSONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2003

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the distinguished career and retirement of Gene 
Verdu, Executive Director of the Southwestern Illinois College Programs 
and Services for Older Persons (PSOP).
  August 31, 2003, will mark the end of an era of dedicated service as 
Eugene ``Gene'' Verdu retires from his position as the Executive 
Director of PSOP. Gene has dedicated his life to helping others. 
Throughout his 30-year career, he has touched the lives of thousands of 
people as he built and developed one of the finest social service 
agencies in the State of Illinois. From Belleville to Belize, Gene's 
generosity, passion and spirit have had a positive impact on family, 
friends, colleagues and constituents. His visionary leadership and 
tireless efforts to constantly improve the lives of others will be 
missed.
  Throughout his career, Gene has served people, first as a teacher 
from 1963-1968. Moving from teaching young people to serving the needs 
of the elderly, Gene became the Director of the local Foster 
Grandparent Program in 1968 and served in that position until 1973. In 
1973, Gene became the Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer 
Program and served in that position until he was named the Director of 
the PSOP in 1975.
  While serving our area's senior citizen population, Gene developed 
one of the first comprehensive ``Preparation for Retirement'' courses 
and educational materials. He organized and administered local Foster 
Grandparent programs, the Senior Companion Program, Senior Nutrition 
and Development programs, as well as Senior Transportation programs. 
Gene also developed, organized and taught several statewide training 
seminars related to the subject of aging and established one of the 
first electronic telephone reassurance programs for the homebound 
elderly.
  Gene served as a delegate to the 1971, 1981, and 1995 White House 
Conferences on Aging and served on national committees for the American 
Association of Retired Persons, the National Council on Aging and the 
National Council of Senior Citizens. He assisted the State of 
Illinois by organizing the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens 
and lobbying the state to create the Department on Aging. Gene also 
helped establish the Illinois Gerontology Consortium.

  Gene has been the recipient of many community awards, among them the 
Medal of Merit by the Belleville Rotary Club, the Studs Terkel 
Humanitarian Award, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award and 
the Outstanding Administrator Award from Belleville Area College. He 
has also received the Distinguished Community Service Award from St. 
Clair County and the Liberty Bell Award from the St. Clair County Bar 
Association.
  Through Gene's work as the Director of PSOP, the elderly of the 
community are treated with respect and dignity. Their needs are met by 
the services PSOP offers: congregate meals, meals delivered to 
homebound elderly, transportation, employment, companionship, workshops 
and activities, travel opportunities, wellness clinic, volunteer 
opportunities, advocacy, counseling, outreach programs, and more. 
Recently, I was happy to work with Gene to secure more than $900,000 to 
help finance the construction of an addition to the PSOP building at 
201 North Church Street.
  In addition to his work with the elderly, Gene still has a place in 
his heart for children. He continues to touch the lives of young 
handicapped children through the Belize Crippled Children's Program. He 
spends much of his spare time promoting this program, recruiting host 
families for the children who receive medical treatment at Shriner's 
Hospital in St. Louis, arranging travel to and from Belize for the 
children, and often escorting them himself, and traveling to Belize to 
assist with the medical clinics which are held to select the children 
for the program.
  As a result of his many years of dedication to the Belize Crippled 
Children's Program, he was appointed Honorary Consul of Belize for the 
Greater St. Louis/Southern Illinois Area and serves as Secretary-
Treasurer to the St. Louis Consular Corps.
  If a person, no matter what age, race, or religion, is in need, Gene 
will lend a helping hand. If there is a situation that needs correcting 
to benefit others, he will fight to correct it.
  The PSOP program helps approximately 12,000 seniors every year and he 
has helped hundreds of children through the Belize Crippled Children's 
Program. His life has made a definite impact on thousands of people, 
thus making the world a better place. Gene Verdu is a true 
humanitarian.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of Gene Verdu and wish him the best in the future.




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