[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17785]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MR. JOHN DANIEL ARTIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 7, 2004

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and honor that 
I congratulate Mr. John Daniel Artis for being selected as the East 
Chicagoan of the Year. For fifteen years, the Twin City Community 
Services in East Chicago, Indiana, has awarded this title to prominent 
members of the community who have greatly contributed to the city and 
people of East Chicago. This year's festivities will take place Friday, 
August 20, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in East Chicago. During this 
prestigious event, John's friends and family will accompany him in a 
roast held in his honor.
  Throughout his education and career, John D. Artis has accomplished 
many admirable goals. He graduated from Tennessee State University in 
Nashville, Tennessee, with a Bachelor of the Arts in political science 
and history and later received his masters in public administration 
from Indiana University Northwest's School of Public and Environmental 
Affairs.
  After finishing his undergraduate education, John selflessly devoted 
two years to working as a caseworker for the Crippled Children Division 
of Gary's Department of Public Works. John then served as the Assistant 
Director of the Cooperative Area Manpower Planning Agency followed by a 
two year term as the Supervisor of Relocation for the Department of 
Redevelopment. As a hardworking, disciplined, and dedicated leader, 
John was promoted to Deputy Director of Redevelopment in 1975 and to 
Director of Housing and Redevelopment in 1978, a position he continues 
to hold. John has been an integral part of several programs that have 
bettered the lives of those in his community: he aided in designing The 
Project 10 Program for rehabilitating multi-family buildings and 
created the First Time Homeownership Program and the Planned United 
Development to expand public housing. Through these and other projects, 
John has been spotlighted as an accomplished citizen devoted to 
providing affordable housing to his fellow man.
  Beyond his full and active career, John has also held several 
positions in an effort to further serve East Chicago. He serves on the 
Board of Directors of the Community Reinvestment Project, St. 
Catherine's Hospital, the Healthy East Chicago Board, and the 
Enterprise Development and Management Corporation. He is also a board 
member of the Northwest Indiana Urban League, the Quality of Life 
Council of Northwest Indiana, the Lake County Integrated Services 
Delivery Board, the Northwest Indiana Discovery Center, and the 
National City Community Development Foundation. Additionally, John is 
President of the Partners in Contracting Board of Directors, Treasurer 
of the Urban Enterprise Association, and a Member of the Gary, Hammond, 
East Chicago Empowerment Zone Oversight Committee. John's list of 
memberships continues and includes several other committees that strive 
to improve East Chicago, illustrating that John has dedicated his life, 
his time, and his energy to improving the housing, health care, and 
economic future of East Chicago.
  The Knights of Columbus Hall will be filled Friday night with friends 
and family who have been blessed with the opportunity to know and work 
with John and who wish to celebrate with him as he receives his award. 
John's work, which has earned him East Chicagoan of the Year, has been 
improving his community and the lives of East Chicagoans for over 
thirty years. Though John is dedicated to his career and the community 
of East Chicago, he has never limited his time and love for his family. 
John and his wife, Karen, have been happily married for over thirty 
years and have one son, Christopher.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in congratulating Mr. John Daniel Artis on being recognized as 
the East Chicagoan of the Year. It is my privilege to extend my 
personal thanks to Mr. Artis for his lifelong dedication to the 
citizens of the First Congressional District of Indiana. I confidently 
await Mr. Artis' future contributions to society and wish him continued 
personal and professional success.

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