[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 761]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DONALD GILMER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2008

  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the inspiring career 
of Donald Gilmer, of Augusta, MI. A dedicated and selfless individual, 
Don has enthusiastically served the public for the past 33 years.
  Don's career has served as an example of the definition of ``public 
servant'' and could be added to any dictionary listing.
  Don has served Michigan citizens in a wide variety of significant 
roles, including 11 terms as a member of the Michigan House of 
Representatives, 3 of which he served as the chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee. Don has also served on the Kalamazoo County 
Board of Commissioners, as Michigan's lottery commissioner, as Governor 
John Engler's budget director, and most recently, as Kalamazoo County's 
Administrator. His services to Kalamazoo County and to the State of 
Michigan are truly commendable.
  As my good friend retires, he closes one chapter of his inspiring 
career and embarks on a new phase of his life. I am confident that this 
retirement is far from the end of Don's public service and that he will 
remain committed to the citizens of our great State and community. 
Don's humor and kind heart will be greatly missed by his colleagues. I 
wish Don all the best in retirement.

                          ____________________