The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF GENE HECKMAN
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HON. JIM BANKS
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Gene Heckman of Columbia City, Indiana. Gene was a beloved member of his community whose work shaped the lives of generations who call northeast Indiana home.
Gene entered the U.S. Air Force upon graduating high school in 1957, marking the beginning of a life of service. Upon being honorably discharged in 1963, Gene returned to civilian life. He married his sweetheart, Karen Rose, and together made the Tri-Lakes community their home.
In 1971, Gene was elected a trustee of Thorncreek Township. Additionally, Gene oversaw the township's public services; served on the Whitley County School Board; helped found the Tri-Lakes Baptist Church; was a member of Gideons International; served as president of the National Solid Waste Association Council and was a member of the Columbia City Rotary Club.
Gene's dedication to his community earned him the opportunity to meet several notable public figures, including President George W. Bush, Vice President Dan Quayle, Senator Richard Lugar, and Governor Otis Bowen. Separately, Gene operated his own sanitation business before selling it in 1991.
This is a testament to Gene's peerless devotion to service for which his community, and our country, is grateful. Though he is no longer with us, Gene's spirit endures in the hearts and minds of all those he touched.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 108
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