[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF EDWARD L. ELLEBRUCK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Mr. HOBSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Edward L. Ellebruck of Springfield, Ohio. Throughout his lifetime, 
he served his country and his community with dignity and honor.
  Mr. Ellebruck began his career in public service by serving in the 
United States Air Force, where he was trained as an interpreter at the 
U.S. Army Language School in Monterey, California. There, he learned 
Russian, and was later assigned to serve in northern Japan with the Air 
Force Security Service to monitor Soviet military operations. He was 
also part of space exploration history. In 1961, he intercepted the 
voice transmission of the second Russian cosmonaut launched into space, 
Gherman Titov. Mr. Ellebruck also used his linguistic skills to assist 
Japanese students and their families in studying the English language.
  Upon his return to civilian life, he spent the remaining 43 years 
giving back to his community and country in other ways. This included 
his work to help provide opportunities for individuals who were 
mentally retarded or had developmental disabilities. For many years, he 
served as a member, and later as the Chairman of the Clark County Board 
of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD).
  Mr. Ellebruck was also instrumental in the establishment of a not-
for-profit work center for the mentally retarded known as Town & 
Country (TAC) Industries. The facility, located in Springfield, Ohio, 
employs an estimated 400 handicapped individuals from throughout the 
region, and provides them with employment opportunities that help them 
develop marketable and life skills.
  For 25 years, he served as President of the Board of Directors of TAC 
Industries, where he and others helped to secure work contracts 
involving the U.S. Air Force and other government agencies through the 
National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH). These 
opportunities have a made a real difference in enhancing the quality of 
life for TAC's participants.
  While our community and country have lost a leader and a devoted 
citizen, Mr. Ellebruck's legacy of service is an example for all of us 
on what one individual can do for others.

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