[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF JOHN BARICEVIC--CHAIRMAN 
                     OF THE ST. CLAIR COUNTY BOARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the career and public service of John Baricevic.
  For 25 years, John Baricevic has been an effective leader for St. 
Clair County, Illinois and the entire St. Louis metropolitan region. 
His regional approach to public policy issues has steered both St. 
Clair County and the region in a positive direction since the beginning 
of his term as St. Clair County Board Chairman fourteen years ago. 
John's vision is credited as the driving force behind numerous projects 
that continue to enhance not only St. Clair County, but our entire 
area.
  John's persistent dedication and interest in regional projects has 
truly made a difference in how the St. Louis region has evolved. With 
the addition of MidAmerica Airport, John's vision provided a new 
reliever airport for the region and his strong support for MetroLink in 
Illinois has its proof in the miles of track which are laid, this year 
more of which are in Illinois than in Missouri where the system 
started.
  His strong leadership in working to keep Scott Air Force Base open 
has continued to keep a major engine in our regional economy strong and 
healthy. Through his direct lobbying efforts, on behalf of the 
Leadership Council, Scott Air Force base has been kept open through 
four rounds of nationwide military base closures. Only one more round 
of closures is predicted. Scott is the largest employer south of 
Springfield, Illinois and is the 4th largest employer in the St. Louis 
area. Scott brings about $2 billion annually to our economy and the men 
and women at the base are an integral part of our churches, schools, 
civic activities and communities. John continues to campaign and work 
with me to protect Scott from closure in this final round.
  Working with the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce, John 
continues to spearhead the planning and development of a new 
Mississippi River Bridge, a project he sees as important to erasing the 
divide between Illinois and Missouri by creating a new Mississippi 
river crossing. Without a new Mississippi River Bridge our regional 
transportation system would come to nearly a standstill and the flow of 
commerce and goods would be drastically reduced. John works closely 
with my office to seek the funds and the support to make the bridge a 
reality.
  John's interest in helping people started early in his life. After 
graduating from Assumption High School in East St. Louis, he headed to 
Atchison, Kansas for his B.S. in Business Administration and then to 
Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas, before heading back 
to Illinois to attend law school at Southern Illinois University 
Carbondale.
  He has held numerous temporary jobs during his lifetime, serving for 
a time with the Teamsters, the Machinists and Carpenters. He is a 
certified teacher and has been a head football coach, a substitute 
teacher and a college admissions director.
  In the late 70's John's interest in law lead him to serve an 
internship with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's office, this 
lead to a full time position within the office and eventually he was 
elected as the St. Clair County's States Attorney in 1980. When John 
became elected as the County's Board Chairman in 1990, he became the 
Chief Executive Officer of the County, managing over 800 employees and 
a budget in excess of 50 million dollars. He became involved in several 
projects of regional significance and worked closely with my office to 
see these projects completed and through all of this time; he continued 
to privately practice law and to help people in need.
  Throughout his busy life, John has been married to Marti Lee Chatham, 
and the father of four children: Charles J., 18; Chris, 17; Brianne, 
16; and Brice, 11.
  For more than 25 years, John Baricevic has served St. Clair County 
with integrity, vision and foresight, paving the way for people, on 
both sides of the river, to enjoy a better life. Recently, for his 
lifetime of service, FOCUS St. Louis honored John as their 2004 
Leadership Award recipient. John continues to serve on regional boards 
and commissions and brings southern Illinois views and perceptions to 
regional business leaders.
  John now leaves the service of St. Clair County and in early December 
is sworn in as a Circuit Judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit in 
Illinois. He will now apply his knowledge and abilities, in helping 
people, to the courtroom where I am confident he will do an excellent 
job.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of John Baricevic and wish him and his family the very 
best in the future.

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