[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CHARLES F. KURFESS FOR HIS YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
pay special tribute to an outstanding gentleman, and good friend, from 
Ohio. The Honorable Charles Kurfess, from Bowling Green, is retiring 
from his current post as Common Pleas Judge in Wood County. His 
retirement marks the conclusion of a distinguished career dedicated to 
the service of others.
  Mr. Speaker, upon his graduation from Bowling Green State University 
in 1951, Judge Kurfess was drafted into the Army where he was assigned 
to the Counter Intelligence Corp. He spent thirteen months in Tokyo and 
then returned home to enroll in law school at The Ohio State 
University.
  While in law school at Ohio State, Chuck was elected to the Ohio 
House of Representatives. After ten years as a member of the House, 
Judge Kurfess was elected Speaker and served in that capacity for six 
years.
  Judge Kurfess has had a significant impact on public policy in Ohio. 
He has also been a strong proponent of justice during his tenure on the 
bench. He has reached out nationally in an attempt to improve the lives 
of all citizens living in this great land. This is evidenced by his 
service as a Past President of the National Legislative Conference (now 
the National Conference of State Legislatures) and his service to 
Presidents Nixon and Ford on the Advisory Commission on 
Intergovernmental Relations. Serving his community, the state of Ohio 
and his country was not only Chuck's duty, but also his honor. These 
chances to give back to the public have brought him a lifetime of both 
personal and professional achievement. Judge Kurfess truly is a valued 
asset to Wood County and beyond.
  Judge Kurfess has been a great resource and a true friend to everyone 
around him. Respected by his colleagues in the legislature and in the 
private sector, Chuck has shown the ability to improve the environment 
around him. He has been the recipient of many awards that reflect his 
service, to include being named the Outstanding Young Man of 1965 by 
the Bowling Green Jaycees, the Outstanding Freshman Representative by 
the Ohio Statehouse News Corp, he received the Distinguished Alumnus 
Award from Bowling Green State University, and was the recipient of the 
Distinguished Achievement Award for Contribution to Public Service from 
Wayne State University.
  Judge Kurfess will be missed in the public arena, His wisdom, honesty 
and forthrightness are attributes to which all public servants should 
aspire. He has set an example for everyone on how to live a life of 
service, putting the greater interests of the community before one's 
own.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute 
to Judge Charles F. Kurfess. Our communities are served well by having 
such honorable and giving citizens, like Charles, who care about their 
well being and stability. We wish Judge Kurfess, his wife Helyn and 
their three children all the best as we pay tribute to one of our 
nation's finest citizens.

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