HONORING ROBERT KOLAS FOR HIS THIRTY-ONE YEARS AS MAYOR OF HIGGINSVILLE, MISSOURI; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 105
(Extensions of Remarks - June 08, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING ROBERT KOLAS FOR HIS THIRTY-ONE YEARS AS MAYOR OF
HIGGINSVILLE, MISSOURI
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 8, 2020
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize Mayor
Robert ``Bill'' Kolas for his 31 years of dedicated service to the
community in his role as Mayor of Higginsville, Missouri. Having been
steadfast in his commitment to the betterment of this small, close-knit
community, Mayor Kolas undoubtedly leaves behind a legacy of
unparalleled leadership.
Mayor Kolas was born in Carrollton, Missouri, the son of William and
Doris Kolas. Going into his 5th grade year, his family moved to
Higginsville, Missouri and established themselves within the community.
Mayor Kolas graduated from Higginsville High School in 1957 and went on
to work in construction for two years before he joined the United
States Navy in October of 1959. After proudly serving a four-year tour,
Mayor Kolas returned to Higginsville before taking on a traveling sales
position. For the next 20 years, Mayor Kolas represented livestock feed
companies, encompassing a Midwest region of five states. In 1977, he
made Higginsville his homestead for good, settling in with his beloved
wife and daughter, and has remained an active force in the community
since then.
After a two-year term serving on the Board of Alderman, Bill sought
the mayorship, successfully winning his election and serving a two year
term. Dedicated to carrying out and directly shaping the community,
Bill ran for mayor again in 1991 and has been leading Higginsville as
mayor ever since. Mayor Kolas' list of accomplishments is expansive.
Under his leadership, the Tax Increment Financing Commission was
established, the power plant was expanded, the city took on a sewer
improvement project and constructed 3 miles of sidewalks, and a \1/4\
cent public safety tax was passed, just to name a few. Moreover, in
addition to mayor, Bill serves his community in many roles ranging from
Founding Committee Member of the Lafayette County LEAD 2000 leadership
program, Board Member, Vice President, and President of the Missouri
Municipal League, Council Chair for the Pioneer Trails Regional
Planning Commission, to the President of the Whiteman Airforce Base
Community Council.
Madam Speaker, please join me honoring Mayor Bill Kolas' 31 years of
leading the Higginsville, Missouri community. On behalf of the people
of Higginsville and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, myself
included, I thank him for his dedicated service to the public. I wish
him the best in this next chapter of his life.
____________________