[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      REMEMBERING ERNEST P. KLINE

 Mr. CASEY. Madam President, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
recently lost a distinguished former lieutenant governor and a life-
long Pittsburgh sports fan, Ernest P. Kline. Ernie passed away of 
congestive heart failure after a life that tells the story of a 
Pennsylvanian with the determination to reach his goals, a love of 
public service, and a devoted father and grandfather. Today I honor his 
memory.
  Ernest P. Kline was lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979. During his 8 years of public service, 
he worked to advance the causes of women and older citizens. After his 
career in public service, Ernie was president of Kline Associates in 
Palmyra, PA. His story is a Pennsylvania story of hard work and deep 
abiding commitment to help people.
  Ernie and his two brothers were raised by a single mother in Webster, 
just outside of Pittsburgh. It was the love and support of his extended 
Italian-American family, his teachers, and his devout Catholic faith 
that would shape him into the statesman he came to be. Ernie was the 
starting quarterback of his Rostraver high school football team. He 
attended Duquesne University but had to drop out early due to financial 
constraints. He became a radio-news broadcaster. While working with the 
radio station in Charleroi, he met his beloved wife Josephine. They 
would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary June 25th.
  When covering a Beaver Falls city council meeting for WBVP-AM, Ernie 
realized that he wanted to enter public service. He went home, told his 
family, and was elected to the city council of Beaver Falls, PA, in 
1955. Nine years later, Ernie was elected to the senate of 
Pennsylvania, later becoming the youngest Democratic floor leader ever. 
After 7 years in the State senate, he was elected lieutenant governor 
of the Commonwealth.
  His life of public service continued after he left elected office 
through volunteering with different nonprofit organizations such as the 
Ronald McDonald House and the United Way. He continued supporting 
Democratic politics his entire life. Ernie also loved to fish and root 
for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  He and Josephine raised 7 children and they were blessed with 12 
grandchildren. Ernie was a loving father and devoted grandfather who 
instilled in his family a love of Pennsylvania and the value of a life 
in public service. More importantly, he was a dad who made sure the 
kids did all of their homework and all of their chores.
  Ernie Kline was a person of integrity and compassion. He never forgot 
where he came from and the values that guided his life. I extend my 
sincere condolences to Josephine and the Kline family for their loss. 
His life story will continue to inspire his family and many others to 
devote their lives to public service and to the poor and the 
powerless.

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