[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 22, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   HONORING THE LIFE OF GENE HECKMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM BANKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2021

  Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Gene 
Heckman of Columbia City, Indiana. Gene was a beloved member of his 
community whose work shaped the lives of generations who call northeast 
Indiana home.
  Gene entered the U.S. Air Force upon graduating high school in 1957, 
marking the beginning of a life of service. Upon being honorably 
discharged in 1963, Gene returned to civilian life. He married his 
sweetheart, Karen Rose, and together made the Tri-Lakes community their 
home.
  In 1971, Gene was elected a trustee of Thorncreek Township. 
Additionally, Gene oversaw the township's public services; served on 
the Whitley County School Board; helped found the Tri-Lakes Baptist 
Church; was a member of Gideons International; served as president of 
the National Solid Waste Association Council and was a member of the 
Columbia City Rotary Club.
  Gene's dedication to his community earned him the opportunity to meet 
several notable public figures, including President George W. Bush, 
Vice President Dan Quayle, Senator Richard Lugar, and Governor Otis 
Bowen. Separately, Gene operated his own sanitation business before 
selling it in 1991.
  This is a testament to Gene's peerless devotion to service for which 
his community, and our country, is grateful. Though he is no longer 
with us, Gene's spirit endures in the hearts and minds of all those he 
touched.

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