[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E939-E940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB REGNIER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2008

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Bob Regnier, who recently was named Philanthropist of the Year by the 
Kansas City Council on Philanthropy. I was honored to attend a luncheon 
on May 9th at which he received this very well-deserved honor, which 
prompted me to consider Bob Regnier's lifetime of service to Johnson 
County and the entire Kansas City metropolitan area. Bob is the living 
embodiment of the anonymous saying, ``Those who can, do. Those who can 
do more, volunteer.''
  I have been privileged to know Bob Regnier for many years. He 
embodies the observation of leadership consultant Don Blohowiak: ``A 
balanced life is the centered intersection of your values, time and 
action. That's where integrity resides.'' Starting in 1970 as a safe 
deposit clerk and teller at Baltimore Bank in Johnson County, he rose 
within the Boatmen's Bank organization and, in 1989, he left that 
organization following a merger and founded the Bank of Blue Valley, 
meeting with his first customers in a doublewide mobile home. The Bank 
of Blue Valley developed from its initial asset base of $2,150,000 to 
an organization with total assets in excess of $700 million total loans 
in excess of $550 million and total deposits in excess of $550 million.
  Just as importantly, however, Bob Regnier has been a tireless 
volunteer and source of strength for the Kansas City metropolitan area. 
As he said in a 2006 column in the Kansas City Business Journal, 
``There is no question that Kansas City is a good place to live and 
raise a family. The question for all of us is, will this be a `great' 
place to live? The choice is up to each one of us.'' Phrased 
differently by Dr. Seuss, the keystone of Bob Regnier's service to our 
community is based upon this idea: ``Unless someone like you cares a 
whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.''
  Madam Speaker, a cursory review of the many, many ways Bob Regnier 
has served our Kansas City community as a dedicated volunteer simply 
would not do him justice. Below I've listed his past civic commitments 
and current civic activities, as well as the numerous other public 
recognitions he has earned over the years for his good works. I thank 
you and the U.S. House of Representatives for joining me in taking note 
of this distinguished history.


                        civic--past commitments

       Heart of American United Way, 1977-1988, Member of Campaign 
     Cabinet in 1987-1988; UMKC Banking Advisory Panel, 1986-2000; 
     UMKC Bloch School Alumni Board, 1990-1996; Blue Valley 
     Educational Foundation, 1993-

[[Page E940]]

     1997, Treasurer, 1994-1995; Health Partnership of Johnson 
     County, 1994-1995, Treasurer, 1994-1995; Blue Valley School 
     District Board, Member 1995-2003, President 1998-2000; Blue 
     Valley School District Bond Campaigns, Campaign Co-Chairman 
     1998, 2005; Johnson County Sales Tax for Benefit of Public 
     Schools Campaign, Campaign Co-Chairman 2002, 2005; Menorah 
     Medical Center Foundation, 1998-2003; Enterprise Center of 
     Johnson County Board, 1998-2006, Vice Chairman, 2002-2003, 
     Chairman 2003-2005.
       Overland Park Chamber Research & Development Foundation, 
     2000-2004; Health Midwest Johnson County Board, 2001-2003; 
     United Community Services ``Navigating the Future'' Task 
     Force, 2002-2003; Salvation Army Christmas Campaign 
     Chairperson, 2003; Honorary Co-chairman Ronald McDonald Hope 
     Is Building Campaign, 2003-2006; Honorary Vice Chairman Avila 
     College Capital Campaign, 2003-2006; Menorah Medical Center 
     Board of Trustees, 2003-2007, Vice Chairman, 2005-2007; 
     Menorah Legacy Foundation Board, 2003-2006; Co-Chairman of 
     Development Committee, 2004-2006; Truman Medical Center 
     Foundation, Co-Chairman, Capital Campaign for Behavioral 
     Health Network, 2005-2007; Honorary Dinner Co-chair 30th 
     Annual Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish 
     Committee Human Relations Dinner, 2006; Arts Council of 
     Johnson County, Shooting Stars Gala, Honorary Chairperson, 
     2007.


                       Civic--Present Commitments

       Johnson County Community College Foundation Board, 1996-
     Present, Some Enchanted Evening Scholarship Dinner, 1996-
     2001, Executive Committee, 1999-Present, Some Enchanted 
     Evening Chair Couple-2000, Chairman Technology Center ``Blue 
     Ribbon Task Force''-2002, Chairman Business & Technology 
     Center Capital Campaign, 2003-Present, Vice Chairman 2005-
     Present, Chairman 2007-Present; Kansas University Edward's 
     Campus Board of Advisors, 2000-Present; Greater Kansas City 
     Chamber Johnson County Leadership Council, 2001-Present, 
     Chairman, 2004-2007; Community Foundation of Johnson County 
     Board, 2002-Present, Vice Chairman, 2005-2006; Union Station 
     Kansas City Board, 2003-Present, Vice Chairman, 2005-Present; 
     REACH Foundation, 2003-Present, Secretary 2003-2006, Chairman 
     2006-Present; Greater Kansas City Chamber Board of Directors, 
     2003-Present, Co-Chairman of Annual Meeting, 2004, Vice 
     Chairman & Treasurer, 2004-2005, 2nd Vice Chairman, 2005-2006 
     1st Vice Chairman, 2006-2007; Chairman 2007-Present.
       Civic Council of Kansas City, 2003-Present, Regional 
     Infrastructure Task Force, 2003-Present, P-12 Education Task 
     Force, 2004-Present, Board of Directors, 2004-Present, Vice 
     Chairman, 2007-Present; Arts Council of Greater Kansas City, 
     2004-Present, Vice Chairman, 2005-Present; Greater Kansas 
     City Community Foundation Board, 2005-Present; Midwest 
     Research Institute, Board of Trustees, 2005-Present; 
     University of Kansas Medical Center & Hospital Advancement 
     Board, 2006-Present; United Way of Greater Kansas City, Board 
     of Directors, 2007-Present, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, 
     Board of Trustees, 2007-Present; University of Kansas 
     Hospital Authority, Board of Directors, 2007-Present.


                    PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC RECOGNITION

       UMKC Block School Alumni Achievement Award, 1996; Ernst & 
     Young Financial Entrepreneur of the Year, 1998; Overland Park 
     Chamber of Commerce ``OP Award''-2002, 2004, 2005; Wayside 
     Waifs ``Fur Ball'' Honoree, 2003; Johnson County Community 
     College ``Johnson Countian of the Year,'' 2004; Johnson 
     County Housing Coalition Sunflower Award for Community 
     Service, 2004; Salvation Army ``Others Award,'' 2005; Jewish 
     Family and Children's Services Alfred Benjamin Award, 2005.
       Safehome ``Jubilee Gala'' Honoree, 2005; Health Partnership 
     of Johnson County ``Evening of Stars'' Honoree, 2006; Johnson 
     County Community College ``Open Petal Award,'' 2006; Midwest 
     Christian Counseling Center ``Ethics in Business'' Award 
     Finalist, 2006; Baker University ``Distinguished Leadership 
     in Business'' Award, 2006; NAACP, Olathe Branch Martin Luther 
     King Legacy Award, 2007; Shawnee Mission Educational 
     Foundation Patron Award Recipient, 2007; Volunteer Center of 
     Johnson County ``Volunteer of the Year,'' 2007.

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