[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 25950-25951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE STERLING HEIGHTS FIREFIGHTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2007

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, on Friday, September 28, 2007 the Sterling 
Heights' Fire Fighters Union will host their Annual Dinner-Dance, 
honoring Sterling Heights firefighters for their dedication to their 
community and recognizing their numerous contributions to the city.
  They will also pay tribute to the career of one retiring firefighter, 
Patrick O'Lear. I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the tireless and courageous career of a good friend and 
public servant. Patrick O'Lear retires this year with twenty-one years 
of dedicated service, having been promoted three times in his career 
from lieutenant on August 16, 1997, to Captain on January 11, 2003, and 
to Fire Inspector on May 21, 2003.
  Mr. O'Lear was appointed as a Sterling Heights firefighter on 
September 8, 1986. After graduating from St. Clement High School in 
Center Line in 1977, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 
from Mercy College in

[[Page 25951]]

1982. In December 1991, Mr. O'Lear received his Masters in Science 
Administration from Central Michigan. In 1989, he was temporarily 
assigned to the training division and in the same year was immediately 
recognized as the Employee of the Month. Mr. O'Lear became a Fire 
Equipment Operator on September 6, 1993.
  In 1994, Mr. O'Lear received the Meritorious Unit Citation for a CPR 
run at Jefferson Elementary. He received Fire Chief Awards for the many 
training programs presented to the Sterling Heights Fire Department and 
for the Residence Assistance Program. He has served as a member of the 
local Safety Committee for nine years and a member of the Apparatus 
Committee. Mr. O'Lear also became nationally certified as a Fire 
Explosion Instructor.
  Mr. O'Lear has also worked to represent and improve the employment 
for other firefighters through his service at the local, state and 
federal levels. He has served as the Secretary and President of the 
local union, as the State Representative of the International 
Association of Firefighters and as the 6th District Vice President.
  Madam Speaker, I have been pleased to work with Pat over the years in 
many community service endeavors and have witnessed the tireless and 
compassionate devotion of Pat and his wife Joan to the individuals and 
families around them. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Patrick O'Lear, a good friend who has dedicated himself to the 
community with valor, commitment and honor.

                          ____________________