[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S10640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. THOMAS KUSTER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
dedicated first responder, Mr. Thomas Kuster. A former Louisville fire 
chief, Mr. Kuster made Kentucky his home after being stationed with the 
Army at Fort Knox. He began his service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky 
by joining the Louisville Fire Department in 1957; he quickly rose 
through its ranks and was appointed fire chief in 1976.
  While serving as Jefferson County judge-executive, I was pleased to 
name Mr. Kuster to head the county's fire protection in 1980. Years 
later, he would finish his long career of public service as 
Louisville's public safety director, supervising the city's fire and 
police departments, EMS, and health programs.
  Earlier this month, Mr. Kuster passed away, and the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky lost a loyal public servant. The Louisville Courier-Journal 
published an article highlighting Mr. Kuster's career and dedication to 
the safety of his fellow man. I ask that the full article be printed in 
the Congressional Record and that the entire Senate join me in paying 
respect to this honored Kentuckian.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         [From the Louisville Courier-Journal, Sept. 12, 2006]

           Thomas Kuster, Former Louisville Fire Chief, Dies

                            (By Paula Burba)

       Retired Louisville Fire Chief Thomas Kuster, who also 
     served as Louisville's public safety director and Jefferson 
     County fire protection administrator, died Saturday at 
     Baptist Hospital East: He was 69.
       ``Tom was a fireman's fireman, a true gentleman who cared 
     about public safety. He dedicated his life to protecting the 
     people of Louisville,'' Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said 
     in a statement yesterday.
       A native of Newark, Ohio, Kuster was stationed at Fort Knox 
     for three years and decided to stay in Kentucky. He joined 
     the Louisville Fire Department in 1957 shortly after leaving 
     the Army. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1964, captain in 
     1966, district chief in 1970 and assistant chief five years 
     later.
       He was appointed fire chief in 1976 by Mayor Harvey Sloane 
     and served in that position until 1979, years that included 
     the last strike by the city's firefighters.
       ``He held things together,'' said Capt. Paul Routon, 
     current president of the firefighters Local 345. ``I think he 
     was the right guy at the time for it. When we came back to 
     work, his stance was `Let's put this behind us and move 
     forward.' I think he did it.''
       ``Philosophically, I'm management,'' Kuster said in July 
     1978 when firefighters had finally voted to end the 95-hour 
     strike--during which he had slept about six hours and 
     responded to fire runs with other nonunion supervisors and 
     members of the National Guard. At the same time, Kuster said, 
     ``I understand, or feel like I understand their [striking 
     firefighters'] position.''
       City officials praised his leadership, while firefighters 
     on the picket lines shook his hand.
       ``He didn't demand respect. He knew how to get respect,'' 
     Assistant Chief Randy Winstead said yesterday.
       Winstead described Kuster as ``real regimental, real 
     serious'' and credited Kuster's acceptance of ``social 
     change'' as one way ``he turned the fire department around.''
       ``You look at (photos of) all the other chiefs,'' Winstead 
     said, ``they all look like your grandfather. Except there's 
     Tom with sideburns and long hair.''
       He was also the first chief to allow firefighters to wear 
     T-shirts instead of uniform shirts inside the firehouse, 
     Winstead said.
       Kuster resigned as fire chief in 1979 after successfully 
     resisting several efforts, according to newspaper stories, by 
     Mayor William Stansbury's administration to demote several 
     assistant chiefs for what he saw as political reasons.
       Kuster worked in administration at the Louisville Water Co. 
     until then County Judge Mitch McConnell chose him to head the 
     county's fire protection in 1980.
       In 1983, Kuster accepted a job as fire chief in Raleigh, 
     N.C., where he served until 1985.
       He returned to Louisville as the first department head 
     named by Mayor-elect Abramson in 1985. He was appointed 
     Louisville's public safety director, overseeing the police 
     and fire departments, EMS and health programs. He held that 
     position until 1993.
       ``Louisville will always be grateful for Tom's public 
     service,'' Abramson said.

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