[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11339-11340]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF DONALD W. KOLHOFF

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2009

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
Donald W. Kolhoff, veteran and patriot, upon receiving the lifetime 
achievement award from the Wayne 11th Congressional District 
Republicans.
  Don was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1930, the second of three sons. He 
graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1948. After High School, 
Don served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954, including 
two tours of duty during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. While doing 
his duty in the Air Force, Don found time to attend classes at 
Southwest Texas State University and the University of Toledo, majoring 
in Accounting.
  After his service to our nation, Don began a successful career in the 
defense industry. Don got his start as a contract manager for the jeep 
division of Kaiser Industries. In 1970, Don moved his young family to 
Livonia, Michigan and went to work for AM General. From 1981 until he 
retired in 1994, Don served as a Senior Contract Administrator with 
Textron Corporation, supervising defense contracts with the United 
States Navy. Due to his exemplary professional service, Don has served 
as a state or chapter executive committee officer with several defense 
industry professional associations including the Association of the 
United States Army (AUSA), the American Defense Preparedness 
Association (later the National Defense Industry Association), and the 
JROTC Awards Banquet Committee, among others.
  In his personal life Don has always been a staunch, committed 
Conservative. His first official participation in the Republican Party 
came when he offered to volunteer in the re-election campaign of 
President Nixon in 1972. He went on to serve as a volunteer in both 
Reagan landslides of 1980 and 1984. His first foray into local Michigan 
Republican Party politics was as a volunteer in the Honorable Joe 
Knollenberg's successful campaign for the United States House of 
Representatives in 1992. Don was later elected as a precinct delegate 
and joined the Wayne 11th Congressional District Republicans. During 
his time in the Wayne 11th Congressional District Republicans, Don has 
led, organized, or assisted in almost every volunteer effort undertaken 
by the organization in order to promote principled Conservative values 
which make our GOP the grand party it is. Don's other greatest 
achievements are his two children, Beth and -Steve, and his four 
grandchildren. Beth and her husband Eric, have three children, Megan, 
Sean,

[[Page 11340]]

and Kelly. Steve and his wife Andrea have one child, Christopher.
  Madam Speaker, Donald W. Kolhoff has faithfully served Michigan and 
Wayne County. As he receives this award for his lifetime of 
achievements, he serves as a timeless example of selflessness and 
public service. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Donald W. Kolhoff upon his award and recognizing his years of loyal 
service to our community and country.

                          ____________________