[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN REMEMBRANCE OF OLGA ``BETTY'' DOUGHERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Olga 'Betty' 
Dougherty, a dedicated civic activist in Lakewood, Ohio, and a 
volunteer to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates in 
Northeast Ohio.
  Born on October 8th, 1917, in Ashtabula, Ohio, Olga Tratnik, was 
known as Betty. In her early 20s, Betty worked as a housekeeper before 
landing a job at General Electric until she retired.
  Betty was a passionate volunteer, working with many different 
organizations to improve the world around her. She was with the St. 
Clair Superior Coalition for 20 years. She was a longtime member of the 
Lakewood Democratic Club. Following her retirement, in the early 1990s, 
Betty became more politically involved and began volunteering for 
Democratic Cleveland City Council candidates in her ward. She 
eventually worked her way into larger races and was an avid volunteer 
for Ohio State Representative Mike Foley, Ohio State Senator Michael 
Skindell and myself.
  In 1997, during my first term in Congress, Norfolk Southern announced 
its plan to triple the number of freight trains along the track through 
Lakewood as part of its acquisition of Conrail. Betty was then living 
in the Westerly apartments near my Lakewood District Office. She was 
active in opposing the merger because of the effect the increased 
freight levels would have on the safety of the people of Lakewood and 
surrounding communities. Betty and several other seniors who lived in 
the Westerly began a daily count of the number of trains, contradicting 
NS's contention that there were only 13 trains a day as there was in 
1995. Known as the ``Senior Monitors,'' Betty and her colleagues 
reported their train counts at every meeting of the people organized to 
oppose to the merger. Often the Senior Monitors' numbers were much 
higher than Norfolk Southern's, in the 20 24 range. The Senior 
Monitors' data was significant in helping me and the local communities 
negotiate the historic cap on the number of trains at the 1995 level, 
rather than a higher number based on 1997 numbers. Thanks to Betty's 
help and so many others working with her to protect safety in Lakewood, 
that cap of 14 trains per day on the Nickel Plate Line through 
Lakewood, Rocky River and Bay Village, is in effect today.
  Betty was also a world traveler and joined travel groups where she 
would be paired up with another single lady on adventures all over the 
world. Throughout her travels she collected hundreds of recipes and 
enjoyed hosting her friends and neighbors for dinner parties.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the great life 
and achievements of Betty Dougherty.

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