[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF NAPPANEE MAYOR LARRY THOMPSON

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JACKIE WALORSKI

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2015

  Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the honorable 
public service of Larry Thompson as he retires as Mayor of Nappanee, 
Indiana. As a five-term mayor, Mayor Thompson continues to represent 
the American spirit and his contributions are truly deserving of this 
body's recognition.
  A devoted husband and proud father, Mayor Thompson has dedicated his 
life to serving his community. He and his wife Linda grew up in the 
Nappanee area and are both graduates of Northwood High School. He 
worked part-time in the funeral home business during high school and 
graduated from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1973. His 
dedication to public service was obvious early in his life, when he 
began serving as one of Nappanee's first Emergency Medical Technicians 
in 1973. Ten years later, he and his wife purchased what is now the 
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home and he began serving as a local 
firefighter. Today, he and his family continue to run and operate their 
funeral home business, where they provide funeral services to the 
entire community. Mayor Thompson became involved in government affairs 
when he was appointed to serve on the Nappanee Park Board and ran in 
his first election, a successful bid for the Wa-Nee Community Schools 
Board of Education.
  After several years of serving in those capacities, the mayor's 
position became open. Prodded to run, he ran against an opponent for 
the only time in his career. Every election since, Mayor Thompson has 
run unopposed.
  Since 1995, Mayor Thompson has been instrumental in improving the 
structure and services of Nappanee. His support to create community 
development, economic expansion, and job growth, made Nappanee one of 
the most vibrant communities in Indiana.
  Mayor Thompson's tireless work to improve the community is nothing 
short of remarkable. His collaboration with local and regional partners 
to lobby for specific projects and funding for the city brought 
businesses like Martin's Super Market and Miller's Assisted Living to 
Nappanee. Mayor Thompson also helped establish the Boys and Girls Club 
of Nappanee and develop the East Side/Airport Industrial Park.
  While Mayor Thompson should be commended for his business savvy, his 
training as a first responder proved helpful when an F-3 tornado struck 
Nappanee in 2007. During the aftermath, Thompson led a coalition of 
community leaders to help rebuild areas of Nappanee that had been 
destroyed or damaged.
  The care and compassion the mayor had for his friends, neighbors and 
relatives who suffered loss and experienced trauma was abundantly 
clear. His business sense, integrity, and passion to restore people's 
lives were driving forces behind the recovery process for the town.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Mayor Larry 
Thompson on his retirement. It is my hope that my colleagues will join 
me in thanking him for his leadership and service to the City of 
Nappanee.

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