[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF RICK EAGAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in memory of a 
very dear friend of mine and a very dear friend of Brown County, County 
Commissioner Rick Eagan.
  Rick's passion for community service spanned his entire life. He was 
a member of the Ripley Fire Department for almost 30 years. He served 
14 years in local law enforcement. He was also a former council member 
and vice mayor of Ripley, Ohio.
  But Rick didn't stop there. He wanted to do more. He wanted to be 
county commissioner because he felt he could lead the county forward. 
So he ran for commissioner and lost. He ran again and lost. They say 
the third time is the charm, and Rick decided to test that water. In 
2010, he threw his hat in the ring. Unfortunately, very early on, he 
was involved in a very tragic automobile accident, one that nearly took 
his life. It took his leg; it took his ability to breathe, and he had a 
tracheotomy until a few weeks ago. He was in the hospital for nearly a 
year. He came out that August, campaigned, and miraculously won the 
election. His dream came true, and he began to serve his community in 
another way.
  He loved his community; he loved his country, and he loved his 
family. He fought every day to make the world a better place. A few 
weeks ago, the doctors believed they could change his course and take 
the trach out and allow him to breathe normally again. And they did. 
But complications ensued, and we lost Rick this week.

                              {time}  1030

  I am so sad for our community to have lost such a dynamic and 
wonderful individual. Public servants like Rick are hard to come by. 
But I'm even saddened more by the fact that his wonderful wife, 
Margaret, and his children, Douglas and Tiffany, will no longer be able 
to live with that remarkable man, no longer be able to love him and hug 
him.
  So I ask this body to remember those like Rick Eagan who put their 
lives before themselves, work hard to make our country a better place 
to live, work, and raise a family. And I ask that the Lord allow 
Commissioner Rick Eagan to be in His hands, and may my dear friend and 
my community rest in peace.

                          ____________________