[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING TONY PETKOVSEK

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Tony Petkovsek, who 
will be inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame 
on August 3, 2013. Mr. Petkovsek has devoted his life's work to 
cultivating Cleveland-Slovenian music and culture, most notably by 
hosting the longest running daily radio show in the world.
  Growing up in Cleveland's St. Clair neighborhood, Mr. Petkovsek was 
immersed in Slovenian culture from a young age. After completing 
college and broadcasting school, he began producing and broadcasting 
his own radio shows on Cleveland's WXEN, on November 23, 1961, which 
was Thanksgiving Day. Since 1962, his show has been broadcasted daily.
  Mr. Petkovsek is one of the most prominent ambassadors of Cleveland-
style polka both locally and nationally. In 1967, he originated the 
Polka Tour at Kollander World Travel, which has since taken thousands 
of polka fans all over the world. His annual Thanksgiving celebration 
evolved from a dance in 1963 to a national focal point of Cleveland-
style polkas, attracting polka fans from all over America to join the 
festivities. Mr. Petkovsek was instrumental in founding the United 
Slovenian Society, the Cleveland-Slovenian Radio Club, the East 185th 
Street Business Association, and the American Slovenian Polka 
Foundation. Notably, Mr. Petkovsek served on the Ohio Arts Council 
under Gov. George Voinovich.
  His contributions to Cleveland-style polka have been widely 
recognized over the years. Some of these honors have included the 
Federation of Slovenian Homes' ``Man of the Year'' in 1966, his 
induction into the St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame in 1987 and his 
induction into the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1991. Mr. 
Petkovsek was also recognized with a merit badge by the President of 
Slovenia, Danilo Turk, in 2012 for his service to the country of 
Slovenia and to Slovenians in Cleveland.
  I would like to honor Tony Petkovsek for his contributions to 
Cleveland-style polka and to the Cleveland Slovenian community.

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