[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24862]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PAUL HILLEGONDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Paul 
Hillegonds, an individual who has served the residents of Michigan 
through the years with great distinction. Throughout his career in 
public service, Paul tirelessly worked for the betterment of our great 
State and continues to impact countless individuals through his 
professional and community affiliations.
  Paul served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1979 to 
1996, and was speaker his final two years in elected office. In 1997, 
Paul embarked on a new path of service, taking the reins as president 
of Detroit Renaissance, a non-profit, civic organization comprising 
Southeast Michigan's business leaders.
  Paul has received numerous honors throughout his distinguished 
career, and I am pleased to call him a friend. Paul and I go back a 
long way--all the way back, in fact, to when he was Administrative 
Assistant for U.S. Representative Ruppe and I was a staffer for 
Representative Dave Stockman.
  Our friendship has only strengthened over time. His wife and kids are 
good family friends and we have enjoyed each other both in and out of 
public service. Paul has always stood for the right things and he has 
displayed the utmost integrity. Unfortunately term limits cost us his 
leadership as speaker of the Michigan House, but his leadership for the 
folks of Michigan continues.
  I look forward to many more years of Paul's friendship. We are all 
better off for Paul's service to the State of Michigan, and I wish him 
continued success.

                          ____________________