[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E590-E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF INDEPENDENCE MAYOR DON REIMAL FOR HIS YEARS OF 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Don Reimal, Mayor 
of Independence, Missouri. Mayor Reimal will be retiring from office 
leaving a rich legacy of quiet determination that slowly and 
methodically lifted his

[[Page E591]]

city from stagnation to restoration. He has the ability to solicit 
assistance from his constituents while working in tandem with his 
fellow mayors, county executive, state and federal officials, bringing 
an era of cooperation to Eastern Jackson County. His style of 
leadership is embedded in civility, compassion and understanding, rare 
characteristics in today's political climate. His departure will leave 
his city in a far better place after his twenty years of public 
service, twelve years on the City Council and eight years as Mayor.
  As Mayor Reimal fondly gave his final state of the City address at 
the Independence Chamber luncheon, he shared how he witnessed the 
evolution of his city with personal memories as he and his city grew, 
evolved and matured. In 1948, during Don's formative years, he grew up 
in an Independence that encompassed only 3.3 square miles; but by 1975, 
he had witnessed the city's expansion to 78 square miles. During those 
years, Don met and fell in love with his wife, Jo, and together they 
committed themselves to each other, their family and their city. Don, 
more serious in nature, and Jo, with her outgoing bubbly personality, 
would serve as the first family of Independence with a deep 
appreciation for the city's rich heritage and a profound sense of 
responsibility.
  As Independence evolved, there came a slow shift to the city's center 
of commerce and activity causing the older historic parts of the city 
to fall into slow decay. Since 1994, in his capacity as Councilman and 
later as Mayor, he helped to lead the effort to revitalize the area 
that President Harry S. Truman called home. Under his influence, the 
Independence Historic Square has had a rebirth due to the restoration 
of old historic buildings into new and vital centers for its citizens 
due in great part to Don Reimal working in cooperation with his 
constituents.
  Today, as you visit the old square, you will find the Chicago Alton 
Depot that opened in 1870 saved, in great part, due to Don and Jo's 
efforts. The Truman Memorial Building stands tall, restored while Don 
was City Councilman. Don had worked with State Representative Franklin 
to obtain funds for the then-named Soldier and Sailor Memorial 
Building, built after World War I, with the support of local veteran, 
Harry S. Truman. The building was renamed the Truman Memorial Building, 
where today's soldiers have been welcomed home and an area in the 
building has been designated the Veterans Hall, designed for the 
Veterans' Video Project with recordings housed in conjunction with the 
Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.
  In addition, the Palmer Junior High was converted into the highly 
recognized Palmer Center for those over 50. These renovations, along 
with the Roger T. Sermon Community Center, were the cornerstone to the 
beginning of the Independence Square revitalization. The final piece 
was added when the Jackson County Historic Truman Courthouse was 
renovated and rededicated on September 7, 2013, eighty years after 
Harry S. Truman dedicated the same building. Don had worked for years 
to find a way to save this wonderful building where Judge Harry S. 
Truman served Jackson County.
  Don's personal touch has had lasting impacts, as he respectfully 
listened to his constituents, providing support and encouragement to 
projects that would serve as stepping stones for further neighborhood 
stabilization. He was rarely deterred, but would just try another way 
to accomplish his goals for the city. In 2007, the voters approved a 
school district change that would expand the Independence school 
boundary on the western side of the city and annex seven schools. Don 
and the city knew that they could provide a better opportunity for the 
students and bring families back to that part of the city. The Mayor 
worked with a prominent group of local citizens to upgrade an area 
known as the Norledge Place Redevelopment site, also in the newly 
expanded school area. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan visited the site in 
2011, praising the work of the community and city for using NSP funds 
and working with private and local funds to transform a depressed area 
into a site of remodeled and rebuilt homes. With much needed 
improvements for transportation, a new transit center was built and the 
IndeBus lines were developed to provide better access for the citizens 
of Independence.
  During his time in office, Mayor Reimal helped to shepherd the 
continued economic growth along the I-70 corridor and the Little Blue 
Parkway. With the closing of older outdated hospitals, Center Point 
Hospital opened in 2007, and in 2012, Children's Mercy East opened in 
the expanding eastern part of the city. Don has never been deterred 
from criticism if he believed in what he was doing. He supported new 
shopping areas, the Greater Independence Business Incubator, fought to 
have the new Genealogy Library built in Independence, and an 
Independence Event Center that is the home of the Mavericks hockey team 
and the Comets soccer team. Mayor Reimal has brought excitement to 
Independence as both teams are of championship caliber.
  His accomplishments are far too many to list, but we can all learn 
from Don's amazing ability to work with people of all political 
persuasions and interests. He is deeply admired, well respected and 
will be sorely missed because he truly cares for his city and the 
constituents that he was elected to serve. I will remember him as a 
quiet man whose heart and mind is always in the right place.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in saluting the 
Mayor of Independence, Don Reimal, for a lifetime of dedicated service, 
and wishing him and his Jo a wonderful retirement.

                          ____________________