[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4130-4131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           EIGHT AMERICAN HEROES FROM THE GREAT STATE OF OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor eight American 
heroes from the great State of Ohio.
  JoAnn Gallitto, Robert S. Kraska, Paul J. Mizerak, Florence I. 
Ousley, George T. Radigan, Walter L. Ratcliffe, Kathleen C. Sauterer, 
and Theresa Ann Yakubik are the honorees of the distinguished Franklin 
A. Polk Public Servants Merit Award presented by the Cuyahoga County 
Bar Foundation and the Cuyahoga County Bar Association as a result of 
their more than twenty years of faithful service to the bench, bar and 
public in Cuyahoga County.


           JoAnn Gallitto--Cleveland Heights Municipal Court

  Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Chief Deputy Clerk JoAnn Gallitto 
is this year's nominee of Judge A. Deane Buchanan. JoAnn has been 
employed at the Court since 1974, and she has been Chief Deputy Clerk 
since 1984. Her duties include supervision of the Civil Division of 
Ohio's largest single judge municipal court, the processing of new 
cases, judgment execution proceedings, preparation of judgment entries 
and a myriad of other tasks, including direct contact with the bar and 
public. A graduate of Shaw High School in East Cleveland, JoAnn is the 
eldest of 4 children, who credits her upbringing by two hard-working 
parents in a close, traditional Italian-American family, with 
instilling in her a level of encouragement and support that has allowed 
her to succeed personally and professionally. An avid Browns' and 
Indians' fan, JoAnn looks forward to a Super Bowl trophy in Cleveland 
sometime soon. While waiting for that event, she enjoys reading and 
music of the '50's and '60's, particularly that of Dean Martin, whose 
shows she saw frequently while visiting her favorite vacation 
destination Las Vegas, the home of two very good friends. JoAnn has a 
myriad of memories in almost three decades of work. She recalls, from 
early in her career, the excitement of being a witness at a wedding 
before her Judge, which was followed about a week later by the happy 
couple's filing assault charges against each other. She also relates 
the story of a lawyer who asked for a continuance of a hearing on the 
day of the hearing as a result of severe bronchitis; she told the 
lawyer that he would need to file the continuance in writing, only to 
be amused later that same day to have the not-so-sick lawyer there to 
file his continuance. JoAnn is proud to note that she is the second 
generation of her family to be honored with the Public Servants Merit 
Award, having followed the example of her Uncle, Richard Gallitto, who 
was honored in 1982.


        Robert S. Kraska--Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

  Robert Steven Kraska is the Assistant Chief Court Reporter at the 
General Division of the Court of Common Pleas and has been a court 
reporter there since 1975. Administrative and Presiding Judge Richard 
McMonagle's nominee, Robert is a 1969 graduate of Garfield Heights High 
School, who worked in the private sector until his graduation from the 
Academy of Court Reporting and employment with the Court. Robert, the 
father of a grown son, was on the All Ohio High School Baseball Team 
his senior year and enjoys attending games at Jacobs Field. He also 
fishes and travels to Canada and West Virginia to play slot machines. 
Robert recalls two incidences clearly, from his many years of court 
reporting, but he discreetly will not identify either Judge involved. 
In one, he recalls a lawyer arguing that his client was ``as sober as a 
Judge,'' which, after looking at the Judge, he corrected ``as sober as 
the Pope.'' Another time, when a Judge seemed to be a little lost in 
asking some standard questions of a defendant when taking a criminal 
plea, Robert tried to help by suggesting that the next question should 
be ``Are you under the influence of drugs or alcohol?'' to which the 
Judge replied, ``No, I am not.''


               Paul J. Mizerak--Cleveland Municipal Court

  Chief Bailiff Paul Joseph Mizerak is Cleveland Municipal Court 
Administrative Judge Larry Jones' nominee this year. Paul has worked at 
the Court since 1976, following employment at U.S. Steel and Yellow 
Trucking. Paul's duties are many. He oversees department supervisors, 
ensures enforcement of court orders, manages the day-to-day operations 
of his department (including scheduling, assignments and discipline) 
and trains all supervisors in his department. Paul graduated from the 
Cleveland schools and received bachelor's and master's degrees at 
Cleveland State University. Paul is a hitter, but in a good way. 
Hitting is part of his life-long commitment to sports and fitness, 
which includes playing in two men's baseball leagues and visiting 
Florida each Fall to play in the Roy Hubbs League. He also has trained 
in the martial arts. He has been married for 15\1/2\ years to Maureen 
and actively participates in the lives of his 13 nieces and nephews.


           Florence I. Ousley--Cuyahoga County Probate Court

  Call Probate Court, and find out that Florence I. Ousley 
communicates. Florence, Probate Court Administrative Judge John 
Donnelly's nominee this year, has worked for the court for 27 years, 
the last decade as Telephone Operator. In addition to direct, initial 
contact with the public, Florence is also the Court's interpreter for 
deaf visitors seeking Probate Court's assistance. Beginning her public 
employment some four decades ago as a summer employee of the County 
Recorder's office, Florence has worked more than the last quarter 
century at Probate Court. A graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Florence 
has been a single mom for 27 years and is proud of her three children, 
Dionne, Holly and Flournoy, all now adults. She has been active in many 
political activities, but she also finds time to assist the elderly in 
nursing homes by providing

[[Page 4131]]

cosmetology services. She also enjoys reading, cooking, listening to 
music and line dancing! Florence's commitment to public service can be 
traced to helping her father, former Councilman and Judge Theodore M. 
Williams. However, that lifetime of achievement by Florence still 
leaves her with pride about a recent part of her life, her substantial 
time with her pride and joy, her grandson, Quinn, who, without 
apologizing to Muhammad Ali, she says is ``The Greatest.''


        George T. Radigan--United States District Court (N.D.O.)

  George T. Radigan, Chief United States District Judge Paul Matia's 
nominee, has been a probation officer for more than two decades. After 
a few years' service with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, 
George has, since 1974, been involved in both pre- and post-sentencing 
probation services, including preparation of sentencing 
recommendations, supervision of pre-release clients and monitoring of 
offenders after their release from formal custody. A John Carroll 
University graduate, George is married to Kathleen and is father to two 
adult sons. To him, his true blessing is his wonderful family. He has 
actively participated in parents' groups for his sons' high schools and 
colleges and also his own college alunmi organization. As he nears the 
end of his career, he reflects that his service has been a major part 
of his life, and he hopes that he has helped his clients in a positive 
manner. He does recall, with clarity, two occasions involving his car, 
which gave some humor to a serious job. The first occurred when he was 
visiting a client who was a well-known auto thief. He locked his keys 
in his car and, reluctantly, asked that client to help him. In a matter 
of seconds, his car was open, and the client inquired, ``Was that a 
test, Mr. Radigan''? Second, he was dealing with a wellknown organized 
crime figure and George was asserting the criminal had violated his 
probation and requested that he be returned to prison. At that time, 
the criminal noted ``I think you need a new car.'' Four years later, 
when the criminal was released, George still had the same car (which he 
liked), and the client offered to help George out and buy him a new 
car.


          Walter L. Ratcliffe--Shaker Heights Municipal Court

  Walter L. Ratcliffe, Shaker Heights Municipal Court Judge K. J. 
Montgomery's nominee, has capped over two decades of public service as 
Chief Bailiff of the Court. There, he supervises all the bailiffs, 
oversees court security and performs duties assigned by his Judge. 
Walter, a 40-year resident of Shaker Heights, is in his second period 
with the Shaker Heights Municipal Court. He started his career as a 
Cuyahoga County Adult Probation Officer, prior to being a Probation 
Officer and Deputy Bailiff in Shaker Heights. He then served as a 
Pretrial Service Officer with the United States District Court, before 
returning to Shaker Heights in his current position in 1994. He is 
proud to recall his mother's public service with the Cleveland Board of 
Education as a nurse and educator and her pioneering efforts to gain 
employment for African-American nurses. He was also a pioneer, as the 
first African-American student at Shaker's Moreland Elementary School, 
and he attended the Shaker schools through high school. Married for two 
decades to April, and the father of three, Walter is the Youth Director 
at Good Shepherd Baptist Church and participates in Church and Youth 
Ministry. Recognizing that court proceedings are serious, he points to 
some humor, particularly the instance of an obviously delusional 
criminal defendant, who insisted that the acting judge presiding that 
day was, in fact, television's George Jefferson, and who demanded an 
opportunity to see the Judge's wife ``Weezy.'' At the same time, that 
defendant thought Walter was ``Wimpy'' from the comic Popeye and was 
glad to offer to pay Walter Tuesday for a hamburger that day.


    Kathleen C. Sauterer--Cleveland Municipal Court Clerk of Courts

  As Deputy Director of the Cleveland Municipal Court's Criminal 
Division, Kathleen C. Sauterer makes sure that her division runs 
smoothly. She continues to be instrumental in the Court's efforts to 
bring its new computer system on-line in 2004. As a 30-year employee, 
since about the time of her graduation from Cleveland's John Marshall 
High School, Clerk Earle C. Turner's nominee has risen from a part-time 
position through supervisor of the night shift to her current position. 
Kathleen has been active at her two daughters' school and prides 
herself on her almost 24 years of marriage to her husband James, with 
whom she lives in Olmsted Falls. When not assisting her daughters and 
husband, Kathleen enjoys gardening.


          Theresa Ann Yakubik--Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts

  This year, Connnon Pleas Clerk Gerald E. Fuerst, a long-time 
supporter of the Public Servants Merit Awards, has nominated Theresa 
Ann Yakubik. Since about the time she graduated from high school, 
Theresa has worked at the Common Pleas Court Clerk's Office, starting 
as a deputy clerk in the Mortgage Department and proceeding through a 
number of positions to that of Chief Internal Auditor, a title she has 
proudly held for the past decade. Theresa verifies titling receipts and 
data for accuracy and insures that millions of dollars, which are 
deposited flow to the agencies entitled to receive them. Beyond her 
duties within the Clerk's office, she has been her office's 
representative on a number of state titling committees, including 
helping to structure state-wide automated title process systems. In 
this later work, she was so persistent in ``bugging'' the programmers 
constructing the systems to provide accurate design and reports in the 
systems that her colleagues throughout the State dubbed her ``Terri, 
the Report Queen from Cuyahoga County'' and presented her with a crown, 
scepter and sash. Terri volunteers with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and 
in her local parish, St. Wendelin's. She also enjoys sewing, baking and 
making table centerpieces for social and political functions.

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