[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 22527-22530] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO WALT HIERSTEINER ______ HON. DENNIS MOORE of kansas in the house of representatives Thursday, October 6, 2005 Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to bring to the attention of the House of Representatives a profile and interview of one of my leading constituents in Kansas' Third Congressional District, Walter Hiersteiner of Prairie Village, Kansas. Walt recently was the subject of an article in ``The Best Times: a newspaper for Johnson County's 60-and-older citizens'', which I am including with this statement. Walt Hiersteiner has a long history of service to his family, friends and community. Since 1946, he has been involved with the management and administration of the Tension Envelope Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, where he has been responsible for numerous innovations in that field, including 25 United States patents. Just as important, if not more so, has been his dedication to the Kansas City community, including: service on the Shawnee Mission Board of Education; establishment of the Committee for Excellence, which supported several school bond issues; service on the Kansas State Board of Regents, to which he was appointed by Governor Robert Docking; chairing the Legislative Committee for the Johnson County Community College Foundation; and fundraising and direct financial support for numerous worthy community causes, including the Children's Center at Johnson County Community College and the Truman Medical Center. I am pleased to have this opportunity to place this profile from the Best Times in the Record, but I am more pleased to have this opportunity to publicly recognize Walt Hiersteiner as a vitally important community leader and activist in the Third Congressional [[Page 22528]] District, and as my personal friend for many years. [From The Best Times, Sept. 2005] Walt Hiersteiner: Community Involvement Over a Lifetime (By Lynn Anderson) A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Walter Hiersteiner graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society in 1939) and then Harvard Law School in 1942, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. While a student at the University of Iowa, he met Jean Newburger, whom he married in 1944. After World War II, the couple moved to Kansas City. Following his graduation from Harvard Law School, he practiced briefly with the Kansas City law firm of Ryland, Stinson, Mag & Thomson. In 1942 he was called in as a commissioned Naval officer, serving until 1946, principally as a naval gunnery officer stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then Long Island, New York. Following his discharge in 1946, he practiced briefly with the law firm of Margolin & Reinhardt in Kansas City. Then, in 1946, he joined the Tension Envelope Corp., which at that time had four manufacturing facilities. Years later, when Bert Berkowitz and Walter Berkowitz died within three weeks of one another, Bert Berkley, the son of Bert Berkowitz, became president, and Walter became executive vice president, sharing principal management responsibilities with Bert Berkley. Bert Berkley's son, Bill, has taken over the sole management of the Tension Envelope Corp., which has manufacturing plants in Malaysia, China, and Taiwan, and eight domestic manufacturing plants, with 30 sales and service offices in major markets. The company manufactures more than 12 billion envelopes a year. Walt champions multiple civic causes with energy and conviction, particularly in the areas of public education and health care. He was named Johnson Countian of the Year in 2003. Eighty-six years old, he lives in Prairie Village with his wife, Jean. They have four children, all of whom graduated from the Shawnee Mission district public schools, and nine grandchildren. His oldest son, Richard, is a lawyer with the firm of Palmer and Dodge in Boston, Mass.; Mary is a teacher in special education and also a partner in a tutoring business; Joseph practices law in Kansas City with the firm of Seigfried, Bingham; and Dorothy is an art therapist in Boulder, Colo., who exhibits her watercolor paintings. Lynn Anderson was treated to a warm, stimulating conversation with Hiersteiner in his third-floor office at 819 E. 19th St. in Kansas City, Mo. Q: Let's begin with a little about your background. You grew up in Iowa, went to the University of Iowa and Harvard Law School, served in the Navy, and finally settled in Kansas City. You've now been in Kansas City for almost 60 years. Why have you wanted to continue making Kansas City your home? A: Jean and I are both strong Midwesterners and we prefer the Midwest unquestionably. I had many opportunities to practice law in the East, but we chose to stay in the Midwest, primarily because we thought it afforded the very best environment in which to raise children. We enjoy everything about living in Kansas City, not the least being its people, the educational facilities of Johnson County for our youngsters, and the wonderful company for which I have worked nearly 60 years. We really have had no desire or inkling to go elsewhere! Q: You have been with the Tension Envelope Corp. since 1947. You started in sales, later became sales manager and subsequently executive vice president, and now are vice chairman of the board. In what ways has the life of a businessman and lawyer suited you? A: A law school education really amounts to learning how to think, and I was able to use thinking skills in the business world. Initially I was involved in labor relations, but I became actively interested in the envelope business. That interest was acquired quite naturally because I was always interested in riddles, which led to my being fascinated by the complicated envelope equipment, leading to my developing 25 envelope designs that have been patented. The company employs a cadre of sales representatives. Often they sought me out, expressing a particular interest of a sales prospect, and together we developed a special envelope to fit the customer's needs. Our company's reputation has been founded not only on regular envelopes of all descriptions but on specialty envelopes. You asked how I would come up with a new design. It's a process of constant and penetrating thought--pensive thoughtfulness--about how to get a better result. I would think about solutions for envelope puzzles at all hours! Q: Hanging on your office wall are 25 framed patents of envelope designs you created, including an airline ticket envelope and specialty packaging envelopes for Hallmark, among a large number of other customers. Were you always inventive? A: Twenty-four of the patents are envelopes, but one is of particular interest. In summer vacations at Cape Cod, our kids would have dry cereal for breakfast--but without closing the boxes satisfactorily, the cereals became moist. I developed a special closure on a box of cereal, and indicated I was going to apply for a patent, to which my youngsters felt ``not surprised!'' I communicated with the Kellogg Company and General Foods after securing a patent, but the Kellogg Company was inspired to go in a different direction by my concept, and that particular patent never materialized into the acceptance I had hoped. Our company is still imbued With the philosophy of coming up with something different and better for customers with specialty needs. Today, in most instances, others in our company handle these specialty problems. But if a designer has an interesting challenge and comes to me seeking advice, I'm happy to provide it! Q: Tension Envelope has a foundation providing grants for worthy nonprofit activities. Do you believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute profits in ways that benefit the community? A: Absolutely! Tension Envelope was founded in 1888 by the father of Bert Berkowitz and Walter Berkowitz, and Bert and Walter were always involved in community activities, principally public education and hospitals. Our company continues to push for community involvement because it is so rewarding! Tension contributes to the community by being a family- focused company. Over the years, we have had two or three generations of the same family working in our company--in part, I think, because our management maintains a genuine interest in its employees. We have a fine retirement program, so many of our former employees are now enjoying the retirement they richly deserve. And I very definitely believe that community involvement is a responsibility for all corporations. We all take advantage of the good fortune of living in the United States, and specifically in Johnson County, so we should share that good fortune. Q: Five mornings a week, you are still at your desk at Tension. Do you have opportunities to interact with younger employees and managers? And why don't you simply go home and find recreational and retirement activities? A: Simply explained, I'm having too much fun to quit. I'm able to have the better of both worlds: semi-retirement and continuing involvement. I am an observer and a consultant, and I try to stay out of the way of the people, many or most of whom I have trained! I engage in some mentoring. I'm finding, though, that it's not so easy to be graceful when you see that those whom you've trained are sometimes doing a better job than you did! Q: In 1979, you and Jean established an Outstanding Service Award at the University of Kansas School of Law for the graduating student whose service to his or her fellow students was considered by the faculty as demonstrating foremost promise for the legal profession and society. You seem to be encouraging young men and women to think about social service. A: It's significant to us that many of the Outstanding Service Award winners say they became involved in social service to ``pay back'' the community. I recognize what they mean by that, but Jean and I don't think of it exactly that way. We just deeply enjoy the pleasure we get from working with the splendid people with whom we collaborate, along with the satisfaction of seeing what we can accomplish together. Q: You are a member of the New Reform Temple. What makes this synagogue and its people special to you? A: We all need to have pride in our own faith, whatever it may be, and opportunities to express our faith with others. In fact, Jean helped in the establishment of the New Reform Temple, which now has a new rabbi, Jacques Cukierkorn, very active in the city's Interfaith Alliance and off to a great start. Q: People of a range of economic levels often want to contribute to their community. What are your thoughts on how we can all do that? A: Many of the people with whom we associate have a passion for being helpful. There's no ``admission fee'' for volunteering! Early volunteering of one's energy and support can be equal in importance to larger dollars that could be contributed. It's a good idea to apply the energy and support even without funds early on, and grow into perhaps more contribution of both energy and support with funds later on. Q: In 1957, you and Jean moved your four children from Kansas City to Fairway. Did your move to Johnson County have anything to do with the school systems? A: It had everything to do with the schools! In Kansas City in those days, even in the secondary grades, the schools had sororities and fraternities, which in our judgment interfered with general relationships and activities and subordinated, in many instances, the concentration on academics. I sought out the superintendent of schools to persuade him that their existence was undesirable and at odds with what should be gleaned from public education--but nothing appeared on the horizon, so we moved to Kansas, where the fraternities and sororities then and now have been prohibited by state law except in higher education. [[Page 22529]] Many of our friends have sent their children to private schools, which we never considered. Our personal view was that our children would receive better preparation for public life--for the mixture of people they would encounter and for how they would need to communicate--through a public school education. I think public schools tend to be more competitive, inspiring youngsters to do well. Public school is a strong preparation for life after school. Q: In 1968, you were elected to the Board of Education for the Shawnee Mission School District. You became board vice president, then president in 1972. What drew you to that form of public service, and what were some of the most contentious issues and most rewarding moments? A: One day long ago, I read in the paper that the Shawnee Mission Board of Education had refused to accept government funds to supplement its special education programs, in the fear that those monies might be dominated by their funding source. That didn't appeal to me and I decided that, rather than just complaining, I'd run for the school board. The more I got involved after a successful campaign, the more justified I felt in that investment of time. Of course, I found some things that I felt were not pleasing, including the fact that girls were denied any athletic competition and confined to participating on drill teams or as cheerleaders. We were able to change that, with the help of the other members of the board, to the point that the principal of Shawnee Mission North once introduced me to his students as ``the father of girls' athletics'' in the district! That's something of which I still remain very proud. Another thing I found displeasing was the concentration by the school district and its administrators in the length of students' hair and the length of skirts, about which they had rules that they monitored rather carefully. During that period of time my older son, who was in law school, came home sporting a mustache. I didn't happen to prefer it, and I thought I was being diplomatic about expressing my objections. However, six months later, when I saw him at law school, he had removed his mustache. When I inquired as to the reason, his explanation really awakened me. He said he simply got tired of it and that if it hadn't been for me, he would have been tired of it three months earlier! When I reported that to the school board and campaigned for a total concentration on comportment in academics, and not on these extraneous things, the board finally agreed to do away with any dress codes. The administrators, to their dismay at the outset, found that students' appearance did not deteriorate as they had anticipated. One of the things I remember with satisfaction is that I had an intern working with me for awhile when I was on the school board, doing leg work and research, helping me considerably and helping in his own development. I have recommended that a few times since. Q: In the 1980s, concerned about funding for the school district, you helped organize the Committee for Excellence. You worked with Larry Winn III and Fred Logan. (Since that time, Winn has been elected to the school board and Logan has become a co-sponsor of the Committee for Excellence.) Initially you were very much involved in gaining the support of a levy election and then two bond issues, the last of which was for $140 million in the Shawnee Mission district. A: Through the work of the Committee for Excellence, which had hundreds of supporting activists or more, we were able to get three school bond elections passed with 60 to 70 percent of the vote in favor. Recognizing that about 30 percent of those voters did not have children in the schools, I think that is conclusive proof of the commitment to quality education that permeates Johnson County. The Committee for Excellence has also been active recently in funding for public schools, which has decreased ever since 1992, when the legislators took funding responsibilities away from the districts and returned those responsibilities to Topeka. We shared concern with all Kansas districts about the inadequacy of the funding, and lobbied extensively to represent the youngsters. We feared that many legislators were more interested in getting reelected than in meeting this educational priority. The committee remains very active now, because it is clear that the foundation plan for supporting public schools in the state of Kansas requires major reform. Q: Tell us briefly about your experience as a member and president of the Kansas Board of Regents. A: I was appointed in the mid-1970s to the Board of Regents by outgoing Gov. Robert Docking, at the request of the incoming governor, Robert Bennett. This was a practice that indicates the cooperation and civility existing in those days that has largely disappeared in state and national politics. My experience on the Board of Regents was wonderful and one of the most enjoyable activities in which I have participated in the public arena, largely because of the other members of the board, with whom I had the pleasure to associate in the governance of public-supported colleges and universities in Kansas. I would not like to have this statement misunderstood, but I have considered Bob Bennett--quite apart from any appreciation for his appointing me to the Board of Regents-- to have been the best governor Kansas has had in my experience, and maybe ever. I couldn't be more sincere in saying that, because in my opinion, Gov. Bennett made decisions in the interest of the whole state quite apart from partisan motivation. I learned a good deal from him in that regard. Q: You chaired the Legislative Committee for the Johnson County Community College Foundation. What was that committee's mission? A: There was concern about losing local control over community college funding at the time of the reorganization of the Kansas Board of Regents. There is now a predominant feeling at that college that the situation is stable. However, the committee is ready and willing to reactivate if needed. Q: In December 2003, the Children's Center at Johnson County Community College was renamed the Hiersteiner Child Development Center in honor of you and Jean. Your financial gift allowed the college to enlarge and renovate its center, making it possible for more students pursuing the curriculum in early-childhood education to move from the waiting list into the program. Has child development had a special place in your heart? A: We have four children, and when we first moved to Kansas City, my wife, with some others, organized a coop nursery in association with the then University of Kansas City. Science has recently revealed that the brain commences to develop even prior to birth, and that was assurance to my wife and me that children needed the benefit of trained professionals, not just those offering custodial care. Jean has always had a passion about teaching child development specialists. At the center's dedication, she told the audience that she had always thought the name ``Hiersteiner'' was a bit long and difficult every time she had to fill out forms or write a check--but her pride in seeing the name on the building was changing her view about the awkwardness of our name! Q: You co-chaired Truman Medical Center's first major fund- raising effort, which was a $20 million capital campaign. For many years you have been on Truman's Charitable Foundation board, while Jean has been active in the medical center auxiliary and gift shop, which she co-managed for about 15 years. Additionally, you and Jean have endowed scholarships for nurses. What fuels your passion for health care activism? A: Everyone recognizes the requirement of adequate health care, but unfortunately, there are any number of individuals without health insurance and without the means of paying for care. The Menorah Hospital experience that I had for more than 40 years was rewarding, but my involvement at Truman Medical Center for about 20 years is in my judgment absolutely imperative because the mission of Truman is to take care of clients irrespective of their ability to pay. Truman is a wonderful community institution under the expert presidency of John Bluford, meeting a need for those who cannot afford to pay. But it also has an excellent faculty that is good enough to be desired by any number of paying patients. Its equipment is first rate and its faculty is outstanding. Interestingly enough, I became involved at Truman while still a member of the board at Menorah, because I received a mailing from Truman that had too much postage on the envelope. I called to explain to them that they could save money by being up to date on postal regulations. About 15 minutes after that call, Jim Mongan, who was at that time the president of Truman Medical Center, was in my office inviting me for a tour of the facility, after which he was able to secure my appointment to the board. That has been a very satisfying experience over the years. Without the assistance of this outstanding institution, most of the private hospitals, if not all of them, would have red ink on their bottom line. No one in the community should be satisfied witnessing people in our community not having any access to health care at all. Q: You are on the advisory board of the Mainstream Coalition. What parts of that group's mission are most important to you? A: I believe our goal is education for the community about domestic, national, and foreign issues for which the public needs as much information as possible. The coalition is quite diverse and nonpartisan, with Republican, Democrat, and Independent members. Q: Countless community leaders have praised the fact that your stand on issues or candidates is never based on ideology or party affiliation, but rather on what you believe is best for the people of Kansas City. What are the keys to maintaining an independent frame of reference? A: Well, I persist in my personal points of view, and I believe that people involved in their communities do a better job of it if they act in as nonpartisan a way as they can. Organized politics has never been appealing to me, so I try to make my mark outside the realm of parties. Q: How do you keep your optimism going? A: Quite often, I don't! But the main tools I use are hope and paying attention to what [[Page 22530]] is going on in my community and what I con do about it. ____________________