[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17015]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ALBERT B. RATNER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 85TH 
                                BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Albert Ratner of 
Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Ratner celebrates his 85th birthday on December 27 
of this year. In celebration of this milestone, his family and friends 
are honoring him on December 26, 2012.
  Albert Ratner was born in 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from 
Cleveland Heights High School in 1946 and from Michigan State 
University in 1951. Due to his extensive civic, philanthropic and 
business history, Albert Ratner also holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws 
Degree from Long Island University and an Honorary Doctor of 
Engineering Degree from Polytechnic University, both in Brooklyn, New 
York. He served in the United States Army. Together, he and his wife 
Faye raised two children, Deborah and Brian. Though Faye passed, he and 
his wife Audrey have been married since 1980.
  Al developed Forest City Enterprises, Inc. into a cornerstone company 
and currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Board Emeritus. He has 
guided his company throughout the decades to become a respected and 
well-known corporation. At the same time, Al has served on more than 
two dozen boards and commissions, where his leadership is legendary.
  His philanthropy, civic-mindedness and business acumen have earned Al 
Ratner numerous accolades. Some of these include Downtown Cleveland 
Recognition Away, Builders' Magazine 20th Gold Nugget Award, the 
Charles Eisenman Award, the U.S. Department of HUD's Agora Award, 
Harvard Business Club of Cleveland's Business Statesman of the Year, 
Financial World Magazine's CEO of the Year and Bronze Medal, Cleveland 
Business Hall of Fame, Urban Land Institute's J.C. Nichols Prize for 
Visionaries in Urban Development, and Michigan State University's 
Distinguished Alumni Award.
  I have been privileged to work with Al Ratner on several initiatives 
and have appreciated his wise counsel. He epitomizes ``a life well-
lived.'' He is a corporate and community leader with boundless energy 
who has made an indelible contribution to the greater Cleveland 
community. Not known to mince words, his insights, advice and counsel 
are sought broadly. He is always willing to assist, to lead and to 
care. I join his family and friends, his employees and the residents of 
Cleveland in wishing Al Ratner the happiest of birthdays, with a wish 
for many more. Onward!

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