[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1020-H1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING STANLEY ELLSWORTH PETERSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa 
(Mr. Boswell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, today I stand before the 112th Congress to 
recognize and honor Mr. Stanley E. Peterson for his 40 years of service 
to the United States as an officer in the United States Navy, and as a 
supervisor in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and as the chief of 
police in Youngstown, Ohio.
  My intention is to enter into the Congressional Record the true 
history of this great American patriot and dismiss the lies and 
innuendoes told by an expelled former Member, dismissed by the 107th 
Congress for his conviction in Federal court of taking bribes and 
kickbacks.
  Stanley E. Peterson was the youngest recruit to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation under Director J. Edgar Hoover in 1947. Like his fellow 
special agents, he lived his life according to the motto of the FBI: 
``Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity,'' and its core values: rigorous 
obedience to the Constitution of the United States; respect for the 
dignity of those protected; compassion; fairness; uncompromising 
personal integrity and institutional integrity; accountability by 
accepting responsibility for his actions and decisions, as well as 
consequences for his actions

[[Page H1021]]

and decisions; leadership, both personal and professional.
  Stan Peterson--he was often called Stan--was an intelligent, 
disciplined, legendary investigator renowned for his likability and 
tenacity in his work. When organized crime and its surrogates attacked 
him, he did not compromise; instead, he protected ongoing 
investigations, remaining loyal to the core values of the FBI up to the 
day he died, December 31, 2001, in Des Moines, Iowa.
  Stanley Ellsworth Peterson was born July 24, 1923, to Eben Caleb and 
Lutie Strandquist Peterson in Glencoe, Minnesota. His grandparents and 
their cousins emigrated from Sweden before the turn of the century, 
looking for opportunities in the United States. Like so many others, 
the Peterson family struggled during the Great Depression in southern 
Minnesota. His father, an honored combat veteran of World War I, farmed 
and drove a delivery truck to keep his family from receiving welfare. 
His mother taught him humility, honesty, faithfulness, and to always do 
his best, work hard, never quit, and to be charitable.
  Stan was brilliant in his studies, graduated from Glencoe High School 
at the age of 16, and adventurous, working for a traveling circus as a 
bookkeeper during the summer months. He attended and received his 
diploma from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. But after 
the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. 
Navy and was sent to Columbia University for midshipman training, 
earning the rank of Ensign. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 
II in the Pacific aboard LST 711. By the end of the war, he was the 
youngest Ensign to captain LST 911.
  After World War II, Stan Peterson was selected to join the FBI, and 
he married Kathryn Rose Thomas. His first assignment as a special agent 
was Richland, Washington, the home of the ``Manhattan Project'' 
facility. In 1947, Richland was a federally controlled atomic energy, 
top-secret community with restricted access. Remarkably, even their 
mail was postmarked ``Seattle'' to avoid identification.

                              {time}  1020

  After 1 year, he was transferred to Chicago, then Cleveland, and 
eventually Youngstown, Ohio, the bedlam of organized crime and famous 
for gangland slayings, illegal gambling, and corruption throughout the 
city government and the judicial system.
  In 1961, the United States Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, directed 
J. Edgar Hoover and the Department of Justice to take action, 
initiating the war on organized crime. Stan Peterson became the agent 
in charge of the expanding regional FBI office with direct 
communication with the Director and the Attorney General. During his 
assignment, he received several letters of commendation for his crime-
fighting achievements.
  After an unprecedented 20 years at the same assignment, he was 
transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, a few years before his retirement 
from the FBI in 1975. A few years later, Youngstown Mayor Phillip 
Richley asked Stanley E. Peterson to become chief of police. This was 
the first time in the city's history that a chief would be appointed 
from outside of the department. As a matter of fact, the succeeding 
mayor, based upon Peterson's record, asked him to remain as chief, 
charging him to stamp out corruption both on city streets and within 
city hall.
  Stan Peterson withstood police strikes, vigilantism, and personal 
attacks from all sides as the former G-man fought crime. As a result of 
Peterson's actions, the county sheriff signed a confession for taking 
bribes, and city workers, judges, and politicians were convicted of 
Federal crimes. In the midst of these events, the local newspaper did 
not recognize the achievements nor investigate but, rather, chose to 
parrot cacophony from organized crime figures and their surrogates.
  After 8 years, Stanley E. Peterson retired as chief of police and 
eventually was asked to join an investigation with a former U.S. 
attorney into monopolies involving the railroads and trucking industry.
  At his funeral, he was remembered for his living example as a man who 
prioritized his life by his dedication and relationship with God, his 
wife and family. He is remembered today for his integrity and service 
to our Nation.
  In closing, I am pleased to note that Stan's son, Dr. Gregory 
Peterson, and his beautiful wife, Ramona, are in the gallery. I am 
happy that Dr. Peterson is present as we honor and enter into the 
Record the memory and history of this great American patriot, Stanley 
E. Peterson.

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