[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 159 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             DICK SCHWEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. FRANCIS ROONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 4, 2019

  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard 
``Dick'' Schweers of Estero. Dick is a staple of the Estero Community 
and has served on the Board of Commissioners of the Estero Fire Rescue 
Department since 1997 and is the current Chairman. In 1997, the Board 
of Commissioners was facing many challenges. It was down to only two 
members and needed a third member to form a quorum to conduct business. 
In addition, Estero Fire Rescue was deeply in debt and struggling to 
remain solvent. While it took some convincing at the time by then 
Governor Lawton Chiles, Dick eventually agreed to be appointed as a 
fire commissioner to restructure the department. With Dick's hard work, 
leadership, and guidance, Estero Fire Rescue was completely turned 
around.
  Today, Estero Fire Rescue has four buildings, state of the art 
equipment, and a large crew of firefighters and paramedics. It is now 
one of the premier fire districts in our area. After 22 years with the 
Estero Fire Rescue Department, volunteering to help raise thousands of 
dollars for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, serving on the Estero Council 
of Community Leaders and the Estero Historical Society, and being an 
active member in the Notre Dame Club of Southwest Florida, Dick is 
retiring.
  I thank Dick for his decades of service to our community and our 
citizens, and hope he enjoys a well-earned retirement.

                          ____________________