[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15563]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING COMMISSIONER FRANCES DuPEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and immense 
respect that I stand before you today to honor one of Northwest 
Indiana's finest public servants, Commissioner Frances DuPey, and to 
wish her well upon her upcoming retirement. Commissioner DuPey's many 
years of dedication and commitment to the residents of Lake County, 
Indiana, have had a tremendous impact on our community. In honor of 
Fran's retirement, a reception was held on Sunday, November 11, 2012, 
at Dynasty Banquets in Hammond, Indiana.
  Fran DuPey was raised in Hammond, Indiana, and attended Hammond 
Technical Vocational High School until relocating to Lamoni, Iowa, 
where she completed her high school courses. Soon after, Fran returned 
to Northwest Indiana and enrolled in Hammond Business College.
  Fran married her beloved husband, Frank, a Hammond police officer who 
would later become the Chief of Police, on November 14, 1964. Fran and 
Frank, who passed away last year, were blessed with one daughter, 
Veronica, and one son, Frank, as well as three beautiful grandchildren. 
It was her husband who first introduced Fran to the Democratic Party, 
and she has been a constant voice for the party in Northwest Indiana 
ever since. A loyal Democrat, Mrs. DuPey served eleven years as vice 
chair for the Hammond Democratic Precinct Organization, followed by 
five years as the Hammond Democratic Chairperson, and she has been a 
vice-precinct committeewoman for the past thirty years.
  Commissioner DuPey's commitment to the people of Northwest Indiana 
spans far beyond party lines. In 1987, recognized for her tenacity and 
leadership qualities, Fran was elected to serve on the Lake County 
Council and served ten years in that capacity. With her election in 
1987, then Councilwoman DuPey marked her place in Lake County's history 
as the first woman to serve on the Lake County Council. Fran, never one 
to rest on her laurels, was subsequently elected to serve as a Lake 
County Commissioner, again being the first woman to hold this office in 
Lake County. Commissioner DuPey, who has served in this capacity for 
the last sixteen years, also has the distinction of being the first 
woman to serve as president of both the Lake County Council and the 
Lake County Board of Commissioners.
  During her many years of service, Commissioner DuPey has received 
numerous awards and acknowledgements for always going above and beyond 
for her constituents. One of her most notable recognitions came when 
she was honored as the ``Most Enterprising First Term Commissioner'' in 
the state of Indiana, an award bestowed upon her by the Indiana 
Association of County Commissioners. Fran's career will be remembered 
for her dedication to the people of Northwest Indiana and her always 
candid, up-front approach to tackling the issues at hand.
  Fran DuPey has led a life dedicated to the service of others. I am 
fortunate to call her a friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring a devoted public servant, Commissioner 
Frances DuPey. Fran's constant efforts to improve the quality of life 
for people of Lake County, Indiana, have had an immense impact on her 
peers and the many citizens whose lives she has touched. It has been an 
honor to work with Fran throughout the years, and I wish her the best 
upon her retirement.

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