[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8770-8771]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO ERNEST KOLB, MAYOR OF OAK LAWN, COOK COUNTY, IL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of a remarkable civic leader from the Third District of Illinois, Mayor 
Ernest F. Kolb. Throughout his career, Mayor Kolb was an incredible 
visionary for the Village of Oak Lawn.
  Mayor Ernie was a strong, energetic leader, and over the years he 
became a dear friend of mine. The people of Oak Lawn thought the world 
of him, for he was a man of true character and integrity. Mayor Ernie 
passed away in June of 2003, yet he will live on in our hearts and 
always be remembered by the people of Oak Lawn.
  Mayor Ernie served the Village of Oak Lawn since 1955, and as mayor 
for the past twenty

[[Page 8771]]

six years. He dedicated his life to the village, at all times 
envisioning routes to build a better community. Mayor Ernie greatly 
impacted the growth and prosperity of the village by seeing to the 
construction of a new village hall, police station, and fire station. 
Mayor Ernie continuously recruited new businesses, worked to beautify 
the community, and overall improved the quality of life.
  On April 24, 2004, the Ridgeland School District honored this great 
man by dedicating the Ernest F. Kolb Elementary School in his name. 
During financial hardship for the State of Illinois, the district was 
forced to close down several schools. Mayor Ernie went far beyond the 
call of duty to ensure that the Dearborn Heights Elementary School kept 
the doors open to their students. Today, the newly renovated Dearborn 
Heights will possess the name and spirit of Ernest F. Kolb. The Village 
of Oak Lawn will continue to share in his passion for education. The 
future of our communities rest in the children of our schools and it 
was the goal of Mayor Ernie to make sure the students believed in their 
potential.
  Mr. Speaker, I am certain that Ernie Kolb's enthusiasm for education, 
community strength, and civic leadership will forever linger in the 
minds of the people of Oak Lawn.

                          ____________________