E 1134 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 25, 1995

addition is another example of a city that is

not content to rest on past accomplishments.

Its programs for the elderly and recreation programs for its youth are second to none.

Union City is a city on the move, ready to

take on the challenges of the 21st century.

The residents are proud of where they have

been and proud of where they are going. I am

proud to be a resident of Union City. I ask my

colleagues today to join with me in honoring

Union City, a great place to live and raise a

family.

TRIBUTE TO MR. CARL

GERSTACKER

f

HON. DAVE CAMP OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 25, 1995

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness

that I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a

man who devoted much of his life to helping

and improving the lives of others. Mr. Carl

Gerstacker passed away recently and took the

heart of a city with him. Midland, MI, my

hometown, was the proud recipient of Mr.

Gerstacker’s generosity and leadership for

most of his life.

Carl was born in 1916, and received the

typical upbringing of a child in the Midwest. In

1938, he received his engineering degree from

the University of Michigan. Two years later,

Carl, like many of the brave young people at

the time, answered the Nation’s call to duty

and enlisted in the Army. He valiantly served

his country from 1940 to 1946 and returned

home to a grateful nation and community.

He began working for the Dow Chemical

Co. Although he possessed an engineering

degree, his abilities with numbers and figures

won him praise from his superiors and he was

placed in charge of the finance department.

His powerful character and charisma came to

the forefront and his proficiency and demeanor

made him a highly respected manager. In

1948, he became a member of Dow Chemical’s board of directors at age 32 and was

later named chairman of the finance committee. In 1960, he was elected chairman of the

board.

Carl’s business and personal talents made

him a vital component of Dow Chemical’s senior management team. He assumed responsibility of the corporation as head of a company with $820 million in annual sales. His

hard work and determination inspired others to

achieve the most and when he left the company 26 years later, Dow Chemical had sales

of approximately $4.9 billion. This enormous

increase in sales was partly due to Carl’s business acumen but more importantly it was his

ability to recognize talent in his employees

and his ability to inspire their best work and

loyalty to the company.

Carl was a strong advocate for education.

He served on the boards of several universities and worked tirelessly on behalf of students. His hiring practices were among the

most progressive of his era not because he

was trying to institute social policy, but because he constantly sought the best people.

His investment in them reaped tremendous rewards. His policies went beyond company

profits to ensuring the company invested in

the people and community.

Carl was committed to environmental protection. He helped institute many of the reforms that made the Dow Chemical Co. a

leader in environmental protection and accomplished this while continuing to expand job opportunities and assisting the community.

Carl had the power to understand people. A

tireless champion of community projects, Carl

established the Gerstacker Awards in 1956,

which honors outstanding citizens. Teachers,

law enforcement officers’ and firemen are

among those who have received the

Gerstacker Award for outstanding community

service. In addition, Carl established the Rollin

M. Gerstacker Foundation in honor of his father to help fund civic projects in the Midland

area.

Carl donated his home to the local church

as a parsonage and later bought it back to

provide office space for local foundations. He

gave generously to the city to help build housing for seniors. Although his financial contributions helped fund the projects, it was his time,

effort, and encouragement that made these

projects successful. His commitment went beyond financial contributions to include personal

involvement.

His community activism continued far into

his retirement years. He served on the board

of the Midland Rotary Club, and the Midland

Red Cross. He founded the Midland Community Foundation and served as campaign

chairman for the United Way of Midland. He

was a man who wished to be measured not

by what he could get out of something but by

what he was able to give back.

Carl Gerstacker’s unbounded generosity

and exuberance inspired everyone he met. His

sense of humor put people at ease and his

ideas and dreams challenged people to think

and challenge themselves. Carl Gerstacker

helped build a city and a company, but more

importantly, he helped build a community and

a family. His loving wife, Esther Gerstacker;

family members including our colleague, Bill

Schuette, Bette, Lisa, Sandra, and Gretchen

continue in his path of community service and

dedication. As a neighbor, Carl’s counsel and

wisdom were invaluable to my family and

friends and his words and deeds continue to

influence us today.

Mr. Speaker, I know you will join my colleagues and me in honoring Mr. Carl

Gerstacker, his many contributions, and his

enduring legacy. He has provided us with the

tools to succeed; now it is up to us to continue

his work.

COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST

AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONGREGAfTION IN NEW JERSEY

HON. DONALD M. PAYNE OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 25, 1995

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker,

this weekend a very special ceremony will be

held in Newark, NJ to commemorate an event

of historic importance, the founding of the first

African-American congregation in our State

160 years ago.

It was on April 27, 1835, that 37 freed

slaves and free-born blacks left the Old First

Presbyterian Church and resolved to become

the First Colored Presbyterian Church of Newark. In May of that year, the Presbytery of

Newark acted upon the resolution and they organized into a Church with the Reverend John

Hunt as their pastor. The Church later became

the Thirteenth Avenue Presbyterian Church,

which merged with Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church in October of 1967.

The establishment of the Church in 1835 by

37 men and women of courage and vision reflected their determination to affirm their own

culture and identify in their worship.

Now, 160 years later, the pastor and the

congregation continue the proud tradition of

the founders. In a spirit of love and service,

the Church continues its commitment to the

community.

This weekend, on Memorial Sunday, a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will be

held. It will include the lighting of 37 candles

to honor the founders of the Church; a dramatic presentation by the Youth Group; a

wreath laying ceremony in honor of loved

ones and friends of Thirteenth Avenue whose

names will be recorded in an Annual Memorial

Booklet, and the dedication of a Computer

Learning Center to provide training for the

youth of our community as a commitment to

the future and a renewed affirmation of our

self-determination.

I have asked that during the memorial service a wreath be laid to honor Mr. Marcellus

Marble, a long-time member of the church.

During my childhood, Mr. Marble and his wife,

Jeanette, showed great kindness in including

me in special church-related activities. I remember with great fondness the yearly church

picnic, held at Eagle Rock Reservation, where

youngsters were able to enjoy games and

other recreational activities.

I will always be grateful to Mr. and Mrs.

Marble for the guidance they gave me during

those years and the positive role they played

in my development.

I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of

Representatives to join me in honoring the

pastor of the Clinton Avenue Presbyterian

Church, Reverend Dr. Alfred B. Johnson and

the entire congregation in wishing them many

more years of success, joy and spiritual

growth.

PHYLLIS A. WARD AND FOREST

CRUMPLEY HONORED AS OUTfSTANDING VOLUNTEERS

HON. ZOE LOFGREN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 25, 1995

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise, today,

to acknowledge and extend my heartfelt congratulations to Phyllis A. Ward and Forest

Crumpley, who are being honored by the

Committee on Political Education [COPE], as

Outstanding South Bay AFL–CIO Labor Council Volunteers. Ms. Ward and Mr. Crumpley

will be honored at the COPE Award Banquet

on Friday, June 2, 1995.

COPE is about working people joining together to participate in our political process.

Since 1955, COPE has fought to secure full

rights for working people and to increase government responsiveness to the needs of the

labor movement. This responsiveness includes

a commitment to public service.