[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MAYOR HARRY KESSLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, late in the night of January 2, 2007, our 
community lost a giant. Our beloved ``once and ways'' Mayor Harry 
Kessler, who symbolized honest and dedicated leadership in the public 
realm, has passed from this life.
  He set a community standard that endures. His tenure as Mayor from 
1971 through 1977 brought growth and vitality to a struggling city, and 
his imprimatur is everywhere. He followed his Mayoral leadership by 
holding other elected offices for two decades after he decided to 
retire as Mayor. Few have defined the Mayor of Toledo as did Mayor 
Harry Kessler. A beloved father for our City, he lived and breathed his 
life to better our city and region. His kind and gentlemanly manner, 
his eternal smile, and his deep commitment to integrity, learning and 
libraries, community service, and athletics have left permanent 
legacies to future generations.
  Mayor Kessler was a builder, a healer, a leader who knew how to bring 
our community together not just for today but for tomorrow. We can each 
learn much from him as we emulate his life of service to us, in the 
private sector, in public office, and so many other community ventures. 
His deep love for our City that he always called home inspired us all. 
He did all he could to make our place on earth a finer and more humane 
place in which to live.
  We extend deepest sympathy and gratitude to his soulmate and partner 
for over half a century, Mary Lou, his children and extended family. We 
wish them strength and peace as, together, we adjust to his passing 
from life with us. May God rest his soul and place him in a leading 
role in the City beyond stars to watch over our earthly pursuits.

                          ____________________