[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 110 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF PAUL BURIK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Paul Burik, who 
is being honored at this year's American Nationalities Movement's 
awards dinner.
  Mr. Burik, was born in Budvar, in what was then Czechoslovakia. In 
1968, during the Soviet invasion, he and his father managed to escape 
and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Kent State 
University with a degree in architecture, Paul spent much of his 
professional career working as Chief Architect for the City of 
Cleveland.
  Mr. Burik is currently the President of the Cleveland Cultural 
Gardens Federation, an organization consisting of more than two dozen 
gardens representing various nationalities. Among the gardens is a 
Czech Garden. Since he became President, the Cultural Gardens have 
expanded annually for the past four years and several more 
nationalities are waiting to build a garden. Mr. Burik is also the 
President of the Cleveland Chapter of the Czech and Slovak Society of 
Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit cultural organization.
  Mr. Burik currently resides in Avon, Ohio, with his wife, Fran, with 
whom he has two children and two grandchildren. In Avon, Paul is the 
co-Founder and Secretary of the French Creek Development Association, 
an organization dedicated to the improvement and promotion of downtown 
Avon.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Paul Burik, a 
man who has dedicated so much of his time and talents to his community 
and its betterment.

                          ____________________