[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 15, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF STEPHEN STRANAHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 15, 2019

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of 
Stephen Stranahan, an outstanding, accomplished, and uniquely generous 
lifelong citizen of the Toledo area. A veteran, civic leader, and 
philanthropist who never forgot his roots. He persevered in uplifting 
the economic, civic, and cultural life of our region.
  Steve was born on May 3, 1934 to Virginia Secor Stranahan and Duane 
Stranahan, Sr. His father was the only child of Frank D. Stranahan, who 
with his brother R.A. Stranahan, Sr., formed the Champion Spark Plug 
Co. The product was regarded as the finest in the world during its 
time, and its dependability contributed to U.S. victory in World War 
II. Steve's mother grew up in the Old West End, her father a Toledo 
resident since the 1850s and a prominent banker. She helped found the 
Junior League of Toledo and the League of Women Voters in Perrysburg.
  Steve attended Maumee Valley Country Day School, Brooks School in 
North Andover, and Dartmouth College, where he majored in music.
  He served as a specialist in the 107th Armored Cavalry Regiment of 
the Ohio Army National Guard.
  Steve's first job was in the marketing department of the legendary 
Champion Spark Plug and where he worked his way up to serve as the 
director of the company.
  An entrepreneurial, creative business leader, he found an opportunity 
to buy a small airport at Telegraph and Alexis roads, National Airport, 
and operated National Flight Services, which later moved to Toledo 
Express Airport as a fixed-base operator. He became a dealer of 
Beechcraft airplanes, tracing his affinity for flight back to his 
father, who was a pioneer of Champion's spark plugs for aircraft.
  Throughout the 1960s, Steve took the mantra of community wide 
leadership and became a rising civic leader, serving as president of 
Downtown Toledo Associates, the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, and 
Civic Pride Inc., which owned the Toledo Blades hockey team.
  In 1964, he, along with Ned Skeldon, Willard I. Webb III, and Henry 
Morse, arranged for the return of the minor league baseball team--the 
Mud Hens--to Toledo.
  Steve joined Paul Block, Jr., Ned Skeldon, and Thomas Anderson to 
form Clear Water Inc. to campaign for cleaning up the Lake Erie 
watershed. His firm, Riverview One, erected Fiberglas Tower in downtown 
Toledo and he was a leader in Arrowhead Park, a Maumee business 
development.
  A pianist himself, he took his love of music and applied it to the 
Toledo Symphony, an institution his paternal grandmother, Marie Celeste 
Stranahan, helped to found. Having served as a long-time board member 
and board president of the Toledo Symphony, he stressed financial 
prudence and Steve and his wife were recognized in 2015 by the Toledo 
Symphony for their stewardship of the institution.
  Steve's overarching influence was most impactful on the University of 
Toledo, having served as chairman of the Board of Trustees and as 
chairman of the University of Toledo Foundation trustees. His 
insistence on having an endowment fund set up for the University and 
his leadership through much of the institutional growth helped 
transform the University of Toledo from a municipal school to a state 
university.
  Toledo has been blessed with his life as a rare leader. Though an 
``Ivy League'' success story, he dedicated his substance to the 
advancement of life for all in the Toledo area.
  Steve will ultimately be remembered for his dedication not only to 
his family, but the family of greater Toledo. On behalf of a grateful 
community, please let me offer his wife Ann Anderson Stranahan, his 
children Frances Parry, Abbot Stranahan Ward, Stephen ``Josh'' 
Stranahan and Daniel Stranahan, his eight grandchildren and great-
grandson, his sister Mary Stranahan and brothers Michael, George, and 
Duane ``Pat'' Stranahan, Jr., and his many friends and associates our 
prayers and hope that they find comfort in the wonderful memories and 
lasting accomplishments of Steve, and of his inspirational role in 
bettering our way of life. His legacy lives on.

                          ____________________