[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIREMENT OF CHIEF LANSON W. RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FOSTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2008

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Lanson 
W. Russell on the occasion of his retirement from the DeKalb Fire 
Department. I join with the city of DeKalb in thanking him for 44 years 
of dedicated community service.
  Chief Russell began his distinguished career in 1964 as a volunteer 
with the Peotone Fire Protection District. In 1975, he established Will 
County's first paramedic unit, and was promoted to chief in 1984.
  From 1988 to 1992, he served as fire chief in Villa Park, Illinois, 
then moved on to Downers Grove for the next 9 years. During his tenure 
there, Chief Russell worked with neighboring communities to develop 
joint hazardous materials, technical rescue, and cause and origin 
teams. Under his guidance, the Downers Grove Fire Department was among 
the first 44 agencies in the country to receive Accredited Agency 
Status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.
  Chief Russell arrived in DeKalb in 2002, and immediately set out to 
strengthen the department's relationships with Northern Illinois 
University and neighboring departments. He led the negotiations that 
resulted in a 4-year collective bargaining agreement, and worked to 
foster an effective labor-management relationship.
  Chief Russell received an associate's degree in Applied Science from 
Joliet Junior College, and a bachelor of science in Fire Service 
Management from Southern Illinois University. He continued his 
education at the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program 
and the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute.
  Chief Russell's tireless service to his community over 44 years has 
been exemplary. I wish him a happy retirement, and extend my deepest 
gratitude.

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