[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF LINDA KOELLING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2012

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Foster City Councilmember 
Linda Koelling who is retiring after eight years of service on the 
council, including two terms as mayor. Linda's upbeat personality and 
limitless energy will be deeply missed by her colleagues.
  Linda's accomplishments on the council were many and long-lasting. 
She created an Ad Hoc Transportation Committee to complete a 
transportation study plan for Foster City. She helped determine the 
fate of a property that will become the town center. She was a major 
advocate in the completion of the teen center at Leo Ryan Park. She was 
instrumental in building the partnership with the Chamber of Commerce. 
When she was chair of a League of the California Cities campaign 
committee to pass a local proposition, she rewrote the words to the 
song ``Waterloo'' that, with the help of council members from other 
communities, became a YouTube sensation.
  On the council Linda represented Foster City on several San Mateo 
County boards such as CCAG, CMEQ, Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief 
Alliance, Airport Round Table and the Airport Land Use Committee. She 
served on the Transportation, Public Works Policy Committee for two 
years and was the president of the Peninsula division of the League of 
California Cities.
  Linda was born and raised in San Francisco. She graduated from 
Presentation High School in 1967, and she attended City College of San 
Francisco as a physical education major from 1967-69. She earned her BS 
in Parks and Recreation Management from California State University, 
Hayward, in 1971.
  From 1972-77, Linda worked as a recreational supervisor for the city 
of Burlingame and was a member of the California Parks and Recreation 
Society. Among her responsibilities was the supervision of the 
recreational centers. One of the teachers who taught an upholstery 
class happened to be my mother, Nancy Speier, who later became a 
staunch supporter when Linda first ran for city council in 2003. I had 
the great pleasure of working with Linda when she was on the council 
and I was in the California State Senate.
  Linda is passionate about education and sports. She founded the 
original Kids Connection private preschool and elementary school in 
Foster City. She was the president of pony/colt baseball for two years, 
created and coordinated a girls softball league, coached AYSO soccer 
teams and her children's softball team. Personally, she loves to play 
golf.
  Linda and her husband Fred Koelling have been married for 40 years. 
They are the proud parents of Karen Koelling Gleason, Tommy Koelling 
and Bryan Koelling and have four grandchildren.
  Though Linda is retiring from the city council, I have no doubt that 
she will continue to serve our community and pursue an active role in 
public life.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the work of 
Linda Koelling, my friend, extraordinary human being and an outstanding 
public servant.

                          ____________________