[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             IN HONOR OF DARIEN'S 2000 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

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                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2000

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ed Tomei, the 
2000 Citizen of the Year for Darien, Illinois.
  The city of Darien is at the heart of Illinois' 13th Congressional 
District. It is a central crossroads for a growing region. Incorporated 
in 1969, it is still a young community in comparison to many of its 
surrounding neighbors. Over the last 31 years a great deal of hard work 
and dedication has been invested to make this community what it is 
today. The people of Darien continue to work hard to live up to the 
city's understated motto--``a nice place to live.''
  Well, I am happy to confirm that it is a nice place to live, and much 
of the credit for that goes to Darien's Citizen of the Year, Ed Tomei.
  Ed and his family moved to Darien in 1970 shortly after the city's 
incorporation. Ed soon threw himself into the work of improving and 
representing the community he called home. He served eight years as an 
alderman and four years as the Fire and Police Commissioner. He became 
a member of the Hinsdale South High School Booster Club as well as the 
Hinsdale Jaycees. Ed also took part in the West Suburban Ducks 
Unlimited Group, a wildlife preservation organization.
  Ed invested countless hours to help make the creation of the Indian 
Prairie Library a reality, and he has shown time and again his 
commitment to his community. Despite his heavy schedule, Ed continues 
to find the time to play Santa Claus at Christmas.
  Ed Tomei put his heart and soul into Darien--and his neighbors 
noticed. As impressive as his civic accomplishments are, it is the 
words that his neighbors wrote about that show the true mark of this 
man.
  One wrote, ``he has always exhibited generosity, enthusiasm, 
diligence and integrity of the highest order. . . After thirty years of 
progress it's easy to forget how much of the smooth running of the City 
in the early days was due to efforts `above and beyond' the call of 
duty such as Ed provided.''
  Another said, ''[i]ntegrity, commitment and leadership are the three 
traits that comprise the heart of Ed Tomei's character and what make 
him an outstanding citizen.''
  That is high praise indeed, but praise that is well deserved. It is 
outstanding citizens like Ed that have built the great nation that we 
live in today. Congratulations to Ed Tomei, Darien's 2000 Citizen of 
the Year. He has made Darien much more than ``a nice place to live.''

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