[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16214]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING FIRE CHIEF JIM MILLER, A FORMER LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP FIRE 
                 CHIEF WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 74

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a 
selfless public servant, former Lockport Township Fire Chief Jim 
Miller. On September 13, Chief Miller passed away at the age of 74. As 
a firefighter, he dedicated his life to protecting his neighbors. As 
Fire Chief, he helped steer the Lockport Township Fire Department 
through turbulent economic times.
  Mr. Miller began his remarkable career as a firefighter in 1959. He 
became Fire Chief in 1979 and served in that capacity until 1987. As 
Fire Chief, he kept his station afloat despite scarceness of equipment 
and firefighters. When he became Fire Chief, instead of purchasing the 
traditional new white helmet, Mr. Miller simply spray painted his old 
helmet white because of the Department's tight budget. After the 
economy rebounded, he kept his old white helmet and elected to purchase 
better equipment for his firefighters instead. This small example of 
his willingness to do the best for his firefighters and share the 
hardship of a tight budget made him a model for what a Fire Chief and a 
great leader should be.
  Firefighting was in Jim Miller's blood. Both his uncle and father 
were firefighters and he passed on much of his wisdom to his son-in-
law. He also considered all those at his station to be part of his 
extended family and treated them as such. He made it a point to visit 
his station when returning to Lockport Township from his retirement 
home in Florida to see his old colleagues. During these trips he would 
marvel at the new technology and increased number of firefighters. 
Firefighters then and now know that without his courage to keep the 
station afloat in the 1980s, these improvements might not have been 
possible.
  Mr. Miller was preceded in death by daughter Jodi Miller and survived 
by his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Jyme, and his children 
Jami, Kelly, and Jim.
  Please join me in honoring the life of Jim Miller. He was a brave and 
selfless public servant. His contributions to Lockport Township and his 
life of service will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________