[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E995-E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAT AND BILL KESSLER, RECIPIENTS OF 
                   THE 2007 ``CIRCLE OF CARE'' AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing Pat and Bill Kessler, a couple who have worked 
together to improve the quality of life in their community. The 
Kesslers will be honored on May 31, 2007 as the recipients of the 2007 
Circle of Care award from the Riverbend Head Start and Family Services 
in Alton, Illinois.
  Bill Kessler retired last year after 33 years at St. Anthony's Heath 
Center in Alton, Illinois where he had served as the first lay 
administrator and longtime CEO of this institution founded by the 
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George. Pat was a registered 
nurse but has spent the past 35+ years that they have been in the Alton 
community raising their family of eight children and donating time to 
many organizations. They have both been willing, despite the 
significant demands of their work and family lives, to give back to 
their community and make meaningful contributions to the quality of 
life for those in the Alton area.
  The Kesslers met while Pat was a student nurse and Bill was a college 
student working as an orderly in St. Louis. They were married in 1968 
and spent their first years together overseas, with Bill serving in the 
U.S. Army after receiving his Masters Degree from St. Louis University. 
They came back to the St.

[[Page E996]]

Louis area and settled in Alton, Illinois with a new and growing 
family.
  Bill Kessler helped shape St. Anthony's Health Center into a facility 
that earned a ``Top 100 Hospital'' award and has branched out with a 
number of community outreach programs and initiatives. Bill has also 
found time to be involved in over 50 different professional and civic 
organizations through the years.
  Pat Kessler, in addition to raising their eight children, with all 
the school and sports activities, homework, doctors visits, etc. that 
is required for such a large family, has also been very involved in a 
number of religious, educational and civic organizations.
  Both Pat and Bill continue to look for ways to serve others. They 
have both recently completed a master's in Theological Studies Program 
at Quincy University and look to enhance their role within their 
church. Their continuing work to help others within their community is 
being recognized through the 2007 Circle of Care award. The Riverbend 
Head Start and Family Services has a mission, to ``enable children and 
families to discover positive solutions to life's challenges.'' Pat and 
Bill Kessler are living examples of this mission and are therefore very 
worthy recipients of this award.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of 
appreciation to Pat and Bill Kessler for their dedicated service to 
their community and to wish them and their family the very best in the 
future.

                          ____________________