Tribute to Katie ILG

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Sept. 14, 2004
TRIBUTE TO KATIE ILG

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I come to the Senate today with mixed emotions. A very important, very trusted member of my staff-Katie Ilg-is leaving our office to embark on a host of new adventures in Chicago. While I am happy for her and proud of her as she begins this new chapter in her life, I am also sad to see her go. Katie has become a central figure in our office. As my executive assistant, she has been my right hand for the last year and a half. She has been my friend.

I take a few minutes today to talk about Katie and the impact she has had on my office and me and to thank her for all she has done for us.

Katie first came to us in April 2000, after graduating from John Carroll University near Cleveland. Her first job in my office was as a staff assistant, where she answered phones, dealt with flag requests, and gave tours of the Capitol. The thing that most impressed me about Katie was that she would always go the extra mile for Ohio constituents-or anyone who wandered into my office, for that matter. She would listen to them with great compassion and concern. She was patient and understanding and a great ambassador for my office.

Of course, this is not surprising to anyone who knows Katie. The fact is that people are drawn to her. She endears herself to people. She is kind to people. She goes out of her way for others. She isn't showy or elaborate or judgmental. She just cares about people-constituents, colleagues, strangers. She reads people, and she worries about them.

It is also not surprising that Katie moved up in my office quickly. By December 2000, she took a position as my personal assistant. Though, after a year and a half, she left our office briefly to work for JP Morgan, she came back in February 2003-this time as my executive assistant, a management position that put her in charge of my personal assistant and scheduler.

Katie has thrived in this job. She is an excellent manager and role model. She works so hard and is so dedicated. She is always looking out for me-always taking care of me, always putting up with me-which, some would say is certainly not an easy thing to do. I've called her at all hours, and she's always there to help-always there with the same enthusiasm and good nature. Katie never complains, or makes excuses, or passes the buck to someone else. No job is ever too small-or too big.

Indeed, Katie Ilg is a very special young woman. No one knows that better than the people Katie has worked with in my office. I'd like to share some of the words that my staff has used to describe Katie. I think they paint a very accurate picture of exactly who she is.

Katie is "thoughtful and thorough." She is "sweet, bubbly, ebullient, compassionate, generous, warm, steady-a calming influence."

"She is willing to do anything for others. She is always there for you when you need her-whether in a work environment or on a personal level. She is the person everyone goes to for support, a good job done, a laugh, a joke. . . . She keeps the office alive!"

"Katie is cute, perky, friendly, positive, upbeat."

And, no matter who you ask, there are four words that everyone uses to describe her:

Katie is caring, selfless, genuine-and short! She makes me look tall! Though Katie is a tiny little thing in body, she is a giant in spirit. She is a powerful, positive force, who is smart, quick, and intuitive. She makes good decisions-good choices. She follows her heart and trusts her instincts. Above all else, Katie makes a difference each day-not in big splashy ways, necessarily, but in just a touch on the shoulder or through a kind word.

Katie is a good person. And, there is goodness in everything that she does.

As her dear friend Matt said, "Whether comforting a family member in a time of loss or discomfort, counseling a friend through a difficult life challenge or affliction, celebrating a success with a co-worker or classmate, or orienting an old friend to a new city, Katie is always there with genuine and heartfelt words, actions, and deeds no matter the occasion and regardless of the other personal commitments she has at the time. . . . She has the ability to be a friend and confidant to all, whether you have known her for 8 years or 8 days."

In conclusion, I'd like to say a word to Katie's parents, Tim and Mimi Ilg. Thank you. Katie is solid in her values and beliefs. She is grounded. She is ethical. She has a great sense of right and wrong. And, she loves her family more than anything else in the world. She is a good daughter to you; granddaughter to Lois; sister to Julie; companion to that boy in Detroit, we know as Mert; and friend to countless others.

Every once in a while, we are fortunate enough to have a Katie Ilg come into our lives. Without question, Katie has been one of the best things to happen to my office since I have been here in the Senate. While my wife, Fran, and I are sad to see her go, we know it is time for her to move on, as she has many more lives to touch and people to help.

We know she will just be a phone call or an e-mail away. And, I'm sure we'll see her at a few OSU football games this fall. Nevertheless, we're going to miss you, Katie Ilg. God bless you, and thank you for everything. You are certainly one of a kind.