[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING ERWIN CHARLES ``RED'' BECKER ON HIS RETIREMENT AS MAYOR OF 
                          EVANSVILLE, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 2009

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing Erwin Charles ``Red'' Becker and wishing him 
well a he retires as Mayor of Evansville, Illinois.
  Red Becker comes by public service naturally. His great uncle, Walter 
Becker served as Mayor of Evansville from 1923 until 1957 when he died 
in office. Before serving the Village of Evansville, Red served his 
country with a tour in Vietnam.
  In 1983, Red decided to become more actively involved in local 
government and ran for Village Trustee. This confirmed his commitment 
to his community and, two years later, he was elected Mayor of the 
Village of Hon. Evansville, a position he held through six terms and 24 
years.
  During Red Becker's tenure as Mayor, Evansville has seen many 
changes, including a four-phase road project, an upgraded and expanded 
boat dock, a new fire house, water tower and line replacements, and new 
water and sewer treatment facilities. These last items were made 
necessary due to damage from the ``Great Flood of '93'' which displaced 
the Mayor from his own residence. During this disastrous time for 
Evansville as well as many Midwestern communities, Red Becker proved 
his dedication to public service by working around the clock, meeting 
the needs of his community, even as many of his own belongings were 
lost to the flood.
  After the devastation of the 1993 flood, Red oversaw a rebuilding of 
Evansville and has continued to work tirelessly for the benefit of the 
village and its residents.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of 
recognition and appreciation for a true public servant, Erwin Charles 
``Red'' Becker, and in wishing him all the best in the future.

                          ____________________