[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 155 (Monday, October 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S6596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BRUCE AKERS

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Bruce H. Akers, 
mayor of Pepper Pike, OH, for many years of outstanding leadership and 
service to the Greater Cleveland community. Mayor Akers has done 
remarkable work during his distinguished career as a leader in the 
business and civic community to improve the quality of life for his 
fellow citizens. On Thursday, October 20, 2011 the Cuyahoga County 
Mayors and Managers Association will honor Mayor Akers with the George 
V. Voinovich Public Service Award.
  Mayor Akers' work as a civic leader started more than 50 years ago 
when he began his career in banking with National City Bank. Although 
Mayor Akers retired in 2000 as senior vice president for civic affairs 
at KeyBank, he has continued his vigorous efforts to serve his 
community as a civic volunteer and local elected officeholder. 
Throughout the years, Mayor Akers has held leadership positions in 
organizations such as City Year of Cleveland, Park Works, the Chagrin 
Valley Inter-Governmental Council, The Salvation Army of Greater 
Cleveland, and United Way Services. He was also one of the founders of 
Business Volunteers Unlimited. In June of 2000 he completed 30 years as 
a member of the National Board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America 
and is currently a member of its National Advisory Council.
  Mayor Akers has had a distinguished political career, beginning with 
his work as a precinct committeeman in 1960. Since that time, he has 
served on the staff of Cleveland mayor Ralph J. Perk, as a Pepper Pike 
councilman, and as president of the Cuyahoga County Mayors of Managers 
Association. He was appointed in 2008 to serve on the nine-member 
Commission on Cuyahoga County Government Reform and has been integral 
in recent years to the reform and transformation of the new charter 
form of government in Cuyahoga County. This year, Bruce Akers will 
retire from elected office after serving five terms as Mayor of Pepper 
Pike, OH.
  For his commitment to public service and the many contributions he 
has made to Pepper Pike and the Greater Cleveland community, I would 
like to recognize and thank Mayor Bruce H. Akers for his years of 
service and wish him well as he continues his many civic endeavors.

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