[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 12 (Friday, January 19, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        IN HONOR OF JAMES AND DIANE LUDDECKE ON THEIR RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 19, 2018

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank two outstanding 
civil servants, James and Diane Luddecke, at the time of their joint 
retirement, for their many years of service to the people of my 
hometown, Vernon, CT. The couple has been employed in the town Finance 
Department for over 30 years; James as the finance director and Diane 
as a budget analyst.
  Their diligent work managing the town's finances during often 
challenging times is a model of professional and nonpartisan civil 
service that has always been focused on the public good. Jim's 
leadership extended beyond the town with his active participation in 
the statewide Finance Officer Association, providing good counsel to 
his colleagues from other municipalities and to the General Assembly 
about ways to efficiently modernize finance systems.
  During their long service, the finance office was transformed from 
manual, hard copy bookkeeping to a digitized, data analytical system 
that might have overwhelmed many of us. Instead they both embraced 
change and made sure that Vernon taxpayers and public officials had the 
benefit of 21st century technology, providing efficiency and savings.
  In addition to being the Finance Director, Jim wore many other hats 
in his tenure with the town government. He was first appointed to the 
town's Fine Arts Commission and has been a part of the Computer 
Authority Study, the Data Processing Advisory Board, and the Study 
Committee for School Renovations Bond Referendum over the years. In 
1989, James was appointed town treasurer. Eventually he became the 
liaison to the Capital Improvement Committee.
  Diane, who was hired in 1985 during the Herbst administration, has 
been the lead in her office managing most projects and overseeing day 
to day operations. She has served under 11 mayors, and her smart, 
cheerful competence was instrumental in carrying out the mission of the 
Finance Department.
  On a personal note, I have been friends with both Jim and Diane for 
many years, having been the law partner of Jim's uncle, Leo Flaherty, 
for 20 years. I have always admired their lively intellect, great sense 
of humor, mutual support for U Conn basketball--men and women, the 
Boston Celtics, and deep passion for the town of Vernon's unique, 
diverse community and amazing history.
  Jim and Diane deserve all the accolades they will receive in the 
coming days as they end this chapter in their lives. I fully expect 
however, that after recharging their batteries they will find other 
ways to contribute to the community they love, and we will be better 
off for it. I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking James and 
Diane for being model citizens.

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