[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 12 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E169-E170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO W.W. ``FRENCHIE'' LaJOIE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 22, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
constituent of mine who has spent the last 50 years serving his 
community in a local business with deep community roots. W.W. 
``Frenchie'' LaJoie began working for Central Savings Bank in 1957 as a 
teller. Since then, Mr. LaJoie has held just about every position at 
the bank except for cashier. Today, as Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer of the Central Savings Bank, he continues to serve the 
community as an extraordinary banker and community leader. Like 
Frenchie, the Central Savings Bank is the oldest independent bank in 
the eastern Upper Peninsula.
  Over the course of this remarkable tenure, Mr. LaJoie has always 
continued to put his community first, consistently working to see the 
Sault Ste. Marie (Soo) area grow and thrive economically.
  Mr. LaJoie was raised in Barbeau, Michigan, graduating from Pickford 
High School. It was there that he first received the nickname 
``Frenchie,'' which has stuck with him for over five decades. As he 
puts it, even his teachers never knew his real name.
  After attending Lake Superior State University, Mr. LaJoie played a 
couple of years of professional baseball as a catcher for the 
Graceville Oilers in the Florida State League.
  Leaving baseball behind, Mr. LaJoie returned to the Soo where he 
began his tenure at Central Savings Bank. Starting as a teller in the 
then tiny bank, he quickly moved into the collections department, where 
he would rewrite loans for customers that were experiencing difficulty 
paying off their loans. Frenchie was then transferred to the loan 
department.
  Mr. LaJoie was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1985 
and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in January of 
1994. To learn more about banking, Mr. LaJoie went back to college and 
graduated from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Banking 
and the University of Chicago National Installment Credit School.
  Under Mr. LaJoie's leadership, Central Savings Bank achieved a number 
of important banking milestones as it grew and expanded with new branch 
offices in De Tour, Kinross, Pickford, Rudyard, Cedarville, St. Ignace 
and Mackinac Island. Mr. LaJoie was recognized by his peers and served 
a 3-year term as a Director of the Federal Reserve Board.
  In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. LaJoie should be 
commended for his many achievements on behalf of his community. In 
2002, LaJoie was named the Elks Lodge #552 Citizen of the Year. In 
April of 2004, he was appointed to the Lake Superior State University 
Board of Trustees.
  His previous charity involvements include chairing the United Way 
Campaign, the Department of Social Service and the boards of Le Sault 
de Sainte Marie Historical Sites and Kiwanis Club. He also was a member 
of the finance Committee for the Sault Ste. Marie Country Club. Mr. 
LaJoie has twice chaired Group One of the Michigan Bankers Association. 
He has also served on the Executive Committee and Legislative Committee 
for the Michigan Bankers Association. He is currently a Director on the 
Board for the Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. LaJoie's personal and professional record 
demonstrates how business can be not only profitable, but also 
strengthen and assist their community. In rural communities, having a 
local bank with truly local roots in the community can be essential

[[Page E170]]

to the well being of all citizens. Mr. LaJoie has always strived to 
make Central Savings Bank responsive not only to the pressures and 
demands of the market, but also the needs of the local community. For 
these reasons, I ask you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives 
to join me in saluting Mr. ``Frenchie'' LaJoie for his 50 years of 
service and in wishing him all the best as he continues to serve the 
people of Chippewa County, Michigan.

                          ____________________