[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 9 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING FIRE CHIEF ANTHONY BEDNARZ FOR HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 50 YEARS 
                               OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 23, 2012

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fire Chief Anthony 
Bednarz upon his retirement after 50 years of service to the residents 
of Western Springs and Riverside, Illinois, two villages in my 
district. He retired on December 31, 2011. These two villages are, and 
always will be, safer thanks to his efforts.
  The seeds of Chief Bednarz's career were planted at a young age, 
since his father served as a firefighter as well. Thinking that he 
wanted to avoid firefighting, Chief Bednarz entered the United States 
Army where he served honorably. After his discharge, he changed his 
mind and joined the Riverside Fire Department in 1961. He knew almost 
immediately that he wanted to be a leader within the department and 
took classes to be one of the first to earn a degree in Fire Science 
from the College of DuPage.
  Over the years, Chief Bednarz gained the respect of his peers and 
eventually became Fire Chief of the Riverside Fire Department in 1976--
a position he would hold for the next 30 years. The Riverside Fire 
Department is one of the most progressive and effective in the area 
thanks to the leadership of Chief Bednarz. He was pivotal in 
modernizing the department's building and rolling stock. He also 
coordinated the Riverside emergency medical response system in the 
1970s.
  Chief Bednarz left the Riverside Fire Department five years ago to 
join the Western Springs Fire Department where he helped make 
improvements and guided the construction of a new building for the fire 
department.
  Chief Bednarz has touched countless lives as a firefighter, manager, 
and mentor. He will be missed as a veteran firefighter and we are all 
sad to see him go. But it is a happy time for his family, as his 
retirement will give him more time to enjoy with his wife, Marianne, 
his children, Krista, Lisa, Charles, and Paula, and his grandchildren. 
I thank Fire Chief Anthony Bednarz for his career of service and I wish 
him a long and happy retirement.

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