E46 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 15, 2019 Simone. Craig is survived by his sisters, Sylvia was a leader in Arrowhead Park, a Maumee . He moved back to in 1984 to (Pete) Klas of Minnesota, and Pam Valentine business development. lead Baton Rouge’s St. Paul the Apostle of Ravenna; nephews Matt (Ashley) and Rob- A pianist himself, he took his love of music Church. And in 1990, his 16-year pastorship ert Valentine and Paul (Angela) Klas and nu- and applied it to the Toledo Symphony, an in- began at St. Augustine Parish in . merous family and friends. He was preceded stitution his paternal grandmother, Marie Ce- In 2006, Father LeDoux accepted an as- in death by his parents, Bill and Adalyn Ste- leste Stranahan, helped to found. Having signment from his order, the Society of Divine phens and his brother, Chuck Stephens. served as a long-time board member and Word, to become pastor of Our Mother of Craig Stephens leaves a lasting impact. I board president of the Toledo Symphony, he Mercy Parish in Fort Worth, Texas. Since know he is dearly missed by his family and stressed financial prudence and Steve and his 1969, Father LeDoux would write a weekly the entire community. I extend my deepest wife were recognized in 2015 by the Toledo column entitled ‘‘Reflections on Life,’’ syn- and sincerest condolences. Symphony for their stewardship of the institu- dicated in several Catholic weeklies, Louisiana f tion. Weekly in New Orleans, and Seacoast Echo Steve’s overarching influence was most in Bay St. Louis. HONORING THE LIFE OF STEPHEN impactful on the University of Toledo, having Father LeDoux loved the city and the people STRANAHAN served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of New Orleans. His legacy will forever be a and as chairman of the University of Toledo part of the city and his dedication to commu- HON. MARCY KAPTUR Foundation trustees. His insistence on having nity embodies the spirit of New Orleans. We OF OHIO an endowment fund set up for the University cannot match the sacrifices made by Father IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and his leadership through much of the institu- LeDoux, but surely, we can try to match his tional growth helped transform the University Tuesday, January 15, 2019 sense of service. We cannot match his cour- of Toledo from a municipal school to a state age, but we can strive to match his devotion. Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today university. Father LeDoux survivor’s include a sister to recognize the life of Stephen Stranahan, an Toledo has been blessed with his life as a and two brothers. outstanding, accomplished, and uniquely gen- rare leader. Though an ‘‘Ivy League’’ success Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and erous lifelong citizen of the Toledo area. A story, he dedicated his substance to the ad- legacy of Father Jerome LeDoux. vancement of life for all in the Toledo area. veteran, civic leader, and philanthropist who f never forgot his roots. He persevered in uplift- Steve will ultimately be remembered for his ing the economic, civic, and cultural life of our dedication not only to his family, but the family PERSONAL EXPLANATION region. of greater Toledo. On behalf of a grateful com- Steve was born on May 3, 1934 to Virginia munity, please let me offer his wife Ann An- HON. BOB GIBBS derson Stranahan, his children Frances Parry, Secor Stranahan and Duane Stranahan, Sr. OF OHIO His father was the only child of Frank D. Abbot Stranahan Ward, Stephen ‘‘Josh’’ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Stranahan, who with his brother R.A. Stranahan and Daniel Stranahan, his eight Stranahan, Sr., formed the Champion Spark grandchildren and great-grandson, his sister Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Plug Co. The product was regarded as the fin- Mary Stranahan and brothers Michael, Mr. GIBBS. Madam Speaker, I was unable est in the world during its time, and its de- George, and Duane ‘‘Pat’’ Stranahan, Jr., and to attend votes on January 14th due to a doc- pendability contributed to U.S. victory in World his many friends and associates our prayers tors appointment in my home state of Ohio. War II. Steve’s mother grew up in the Old and hope that they find comfort in the wonder- Had I been present, I would have voted Yea West End, her father a Toledo resident since ful memories and lasting accomplishments of on Roll Call No. 30. the 1850s and a prominent banker. She Steve, and of his inspirational role in bettering f helped found the Junior League of Toledo and our way of life. His legacy lives on. the League of Women Voters in Perrysburg. f PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SESQUI- Steve attended Maumee Valley Country Day CENTENNIAL OF JOHNSON CITY, HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY School, Brooks School in North Andover, and TENNESSEE OF FATHER JEROME LEDOUX Dartmouth College, where he majored in music. HON. DAVID P. ROE He served as a specialist in the 107th Ar- HON. CEDRIC L. RICHMOND OF TENNESSEE OF LOUISIANA mored Cavalry Regiment of the Ohio Army IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES National Guard. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Steve’s first job was in the marketing de- Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Tuesday, January 15, 2019 partment of the legendary Champion Spark Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, I rise to Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Plug and where he worked his way up to honor the life and legacy of Father Jerome Speaker, today I join in paying tribute to the serve as the director of the company. LeDoux, a beloved Catholic priest who sesquicentennial of my hometown of Johnson An entrepreneurial, creative business lead- pastored St. Augustine Catholic Church in city, Tennessee. er, he found an opportunity to buy a small air- New Orleans. Father LeDoux passed away on The City of Johnson City was founded in port at Telegraph and Alexis roads, National Monday, January 7, 2019 at the age of 88. Northeast Tennessee, where three railroads— Airport, and operated National Flight Services, Father LeDoux was born in Lake Charles, East Tennessee and Western North Carolina which later moved to Toledo Express Airport Louisiana, in 1930. He attended Sacred Heart Railroad, Clinchfield Railroad, and Southern as a fixed-base operator. He became a dealer Elementary School and at the age of 13, he Railway—converged, holding its first election of Beechcraft airplanes, tracing his affinity for traveled to Bay St. Louis, , to at- on Jan. 3, 1870, with 60 registered voters. flight back to his father, who was a pioneer of tend high school at St. Augustine Seminary. Voters elected entrepreneur Henry Johnson, Champion’s spark plugs for aircraft. This was the only seminary in the nation that owner of Johnson’s Depot, to serve as the Throughout the 1960s, Steve took the trained African-American men for the priest- City’s first mayor. The City charter defined the mantra of community wide leadership and be- hood. His spiritual training continued in Illinois city limits as being the area within a half-mile came a rising civic leader, serving as presi- and Iowa, and be returned to St. Augustine radius of Johnson’s Depot, the city’s first com- dent of Downtown Toledo Associates, the To- Seminary for further study. mercial business. Johnson’s Depot operated ledo Area Chamber of Commerce, and Civic Father LeDoux was ordained to the Catholic as a railway depot, freight station, and post of- Pride Inc., which owned the Toledo Blades priesthood on May 11, 1957. Following ordina- fice, and also served as a hotel, restaurant, hockey team. tion, he studied for four years in Rome, where and store. In 1964, he, along with Ned Skeldon, Wil- he earned a master’s degree in sacred the- The Watauga Tannery, the city’s first major lard I. Webb III, and Henry Morse, arranged ology and a doctorate in church law. He re- industry, was established in November 1883 for the return of the minor league baseball turned to St. Augustine Seminary in Mis- covering 130 acres and employing as many as team—the Mud Hens—to Toledo. sissippi and taught theology and church law 300 men. Today, Johnson City boasts a di- Steve joined Paul Block, Jr., Ned Skeldon, for six years. In 1969, he began teaching at verse economy led by healthcare and edu- and Thomas Anderson to form Clear Water Xavier University in New Orleans and contin- cation. Inc. to campaign for cleaning up the Lake Erie ued in this role for more than a decade. The Mountain Branch of the National Home watershed. His firm, Riverview One, erected In 1981, Father LeDoux became pastor of for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers opened in Fiberglas Tower in downtown Toledo and he St. Martin de Porres Church in Praire View, 1903. Now known as the James H. Quillen VA

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