ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, and Nick Schroer, a state representative candidate in District 107, honored a St. Charles man Monday night for his role in the St. Charles community.
Walter Rogalski, originally of Warsaw, Poland, survived the Holocaust during World War II, was liberated from the Dachau concentration camp, and emigrated to the United States. He eventually settled in the St. Louis area with just $400 in his pocket.
The 89-year-old studied at Ranken Technical School before starting his own business, which made industrial parts and tools. Some of his company’s work was even put on the Space Shuttle Columbia, given one of his customers was McDonnell Douglas.
Hill met Rogalski going door-to-door, and in 2009 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a profile about him. Hill was taken aback by the man’s remarkable history. He decided to recognize the man with a House Resolution acknowledging his achievements.
“He’s an amazing person,” Hill said. “It shows that against all odds, anybody can become anything. It doesn’t matter where you live. You always hear about American exceptionalism, but honestly I think we’re exceptional because of who comes to our country and that’s why we need to recognize Mr. Podalski.”
Hill and Schroer presented the resolution alongside St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith, who worked for Rogalski before she began working in politics.
