2124 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 17, 2006 During his time as Bishop of the Diocese of Jack Herrity carved a place which is now Northern Virginia developer John T. ‘‘Til’’ Marquette, Bishop Garland also began the and will forever be unmatched in Fairfax Hazel said. Legacy of Faith to raise $10 million toward the County history. We honor and remember Jack During this period of growth under Diocese’s endowment campaign. To accom- Herrity, more than 1,000 people moved into for his countless accomplishments and unwav- Fairfax every month. The county grew into plish such a feat, he recruited the Bishop’s ering dedication to the people of Fairfax Coun- the largest jurisdiction in the Washington Ambassadors to help achieve the objective of ty. We insert for the RECORD a Washington area. From Herrity’s first election as chair- allowing future generations the opportunity to Post obituary from February 2. Jack will be man in 1975 to his ouster in 1987, the county’s experience all that the tradition of faith has to deeply missed by the people of Fairfax Coun- population jumped by more than a third, offer. Among the many wonderful causes this ty, and at home by his family. from 554,500 to 746,600—surpassing most U.S. campaign has aided, it has benefited Catholic [From the Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2006] cities and even several states. Today, more than 1 million people live in Fairfax. schools and the Upper Peninsula Catholic So- (By Lisa Rein and Peter Baker) He was an advocate for improving the cial Services. My wife Laurie and I have John F. ‘‘Jack’’ Herrity, the former chair- proudly served as Ambassadors humbly as- county’s road network and pushed to widen man of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors who inside the . He sisting with this valiant effort. ushered in a development boom that trans- first opposed, then campaigned hard for a Throughout his nearly 50 years of ministry, formed the county from sleepy bedroom major new road cutting through the county’s Bishop Garland has touched many lives and community to suburban colossus, died yes- midsection. bestowed many lessons of faith. Although terday of heart failure. He was 74. The General Assembly named the Fairfax Bishop Garland is retiring, he will continue to Herrity, whose scrappy battle with a weak County Parkway in his honor in 1995. help people and serve his faith. He plans to heart first endeared him to Fairfax voters in It was his quick-witted, never-say-die the 1970s, succumbed to an aortic aneurysm stay in Marquette to remain involved with the brand of politics that earned him a loyal fol- at , where he was ad- lowing during a crucial transition period in church. When called upon, he looks forward to mitted two weeks ago with chest pain. He substituting for local priests and celebrating Fairfax history. had a heart transplant 12 years ago. With his burly build, balding pate and In his heyday, Herrity dominated Northern confirmations. ever-present U.S. flag lapel pin, Herrity be- Virginia politics as few others have, com- Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Rep- came a familiar figure in political and civic manding attention with his pugnacious style resentatives to join me in thanking Bishop circles. Known simply as Jack, he criss- and unabashedly pro-growth policies. His James H. Garland for his service to the Dio- crossed the 399-square-mile county almost was a classic rise-and-fall political story— cese of Marquette, to the Holy Catholic every day in search of any gathering of two from his landslide victories as the Fairfax or more people, often driving so fast that he Church and his tireless dedication to the value economy soared to unprecedented heights to collected a glove compartment full of speed- of education and involvement in his faith com- his crushing defeat in 1987 when the on- ing tickets that became legendary. munity. Beyond the incredible credentials, slaught of new cars finally overwhelmed Throughout his tenure, Herrity was noto- leadership roles and accomplishments that county roads and voter patience. rious for his penchant for the outrageous, span his lifetime, Bishop Garland has shown Herrity was engaged in county affairs until the end. From his hospital bed last week, he shoot-from-the-hip statements. unwavering commitment to the people he has When county officials were thinking about served. He has truly done God’s work through was asking former aides to help run his like- ly campaign for board chairman next year, a building a major government center, he sug- his teachings and as a role model for parish- race he lost in 2003 in a Republican primary. gested that they instead ‘‘build a circus tent ioners. He was busy fighting plans to extend Metro- and put the bureaucrats in it.’’ He called f rail to Dulles International Airport, saying Metro, which opened while he was in office, the expense could not be justified. And, in an a ‘‘Mighty Expensive Transportation Rip REMEMBERING JACK HERRITY OF about-face some local politicians saw as cyn- Off.’’ FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA ical, he had joined in recent months with His tart tongue extended to his rivals as grass-roots activists—and the woman who well. In 1987, he derided Moore as a gadfly HON. FRANK R. WOLF defeated him, slow-growth Democrat Audrey with so little support on the board that, if Moore—to fight dense development planned she made the motion, she ‘‘couldn’t get a OF VIRGINIA second to go to the bathroom.’’ Four years IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for the county’s last slivers of open space. He was at meetings almost every night. later, he dismissed Rep. Thomas M. Davis III Thursday, February 16, 2006 ‘‘To Jack’s credit, if he had a difference of (R-Fairfax) as a ‘‘left-wing liberal’’ whose support from a taxpayers group was ‘‘like Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for opinion [with the county’s leadership], he never sat on his hands,’’ Eric Lundberg, the the chicken endorsing the fox.’’ His relation- Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia and I to remember ships with both had softened in recent years. the Honorable John F. ‘‘Jack’’ Herrity, former Fairfax GOP chairman, said. ‘‘He was willing to engage in the battle.’’ Herrity saw no reason to apologize for his chairman of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Herrity could be seen most mornings in a close alliance with the region’s powerful de- Board of Supervisors, who passed away on floppy wide-brimmed hat walking his black velopers, who he said had helped create a February 1. If anyone is worthy of the title ‘‘Mr. Labrador retriever, Raven, on the W & OD quality of life envied across the country— Fairfax,’’ Jack Herrity is that person. trail near his Vienna home, where he lived high-paying jobs, good schools, low crime. A driven leader during his time with the Fair- with his wife, JoAnn Spevacek-Herrity. They But his ties to the real estate industry be- fax County Board, Jack was the guiding force married in November. came his political undoing. His 1986 conviction on a misdemeanor con- in setting the firm foundation for a growing and ‘‘He’s a piece of our history,’’ said Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D), who or- flict-of-interest charge for failing to disclose developing Fairfax County. His leadership dered county flags flown at half-staff yester- a relationship with a builder only cemented brought us the , Inter- day. ‘‘He was a political adversary, but he Herrity’s public image as a handmaiden of state 66 inside the Beltway and the Dulles Ac- would do it more often than not with a cer- developers. By then, voter support for the cess Road. The Virginia General Assembly tain twinkle in his eye. It was more the love breakneck pace of construction had dis- aptly named the Fairfax County Parkway in his of the fight than the substance of the mo- solved amid maddening traffic gridlock. He honor in 1995. ment.’’ suffered a major indignity in 1987 when he After attending Georgetown University as an Herrity was the fourth person to serve as lost his prized office to Moore by more than 21 percentage points. undergraduate and as a law student, Jack countywide chairman but the first to hold the job for a full term, let alone three. He de- He never fully accepted defeat. Years later, formed Jack Herrity and Associates, a pension fined the role as a quasi-mayoral position his address in his telephone book was still planning and insurance business. But public even though it has no real executive power. the county government headquarters. service was Jack’s forte. He quickly became He played a major role in building what ‘‘This was Jack’s life,’’ Davis recalled. engaged in northern Virginia politics, serving was commonly referred to as the economic ‘‘When he was defeated he couldn’t move on on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors engine of Virginia. By fostering a super- to something else. He was a doer. He could from 1971 to 1987. He was elected chairman heated business environment, he helped lure never sit still.’’ of the board in 1975 and served three terms. Fortune 500 companies such as what was The comeback Herrity methodically plot- ted collapsed in 1991 when he lost the GOP He recognized the potential of Fairfax County then known as the Mobil Corp. to Fairfax and convert a suburban crossroads called nomination for chairman to Davis, his one- to become the largest jurisdiction in the Wash- Tysons Corner into a commercial center time protege, who also handpicked a Repub- ington area and helped develop the once larger than downtown Miami. lican to run against him in the 2003 primary sleepy rural crossroads, Tysons Corner, into ‘‘Instead of jobs going out of the county,’’ for board chairman. Since his departure from the thriving commercial district it is today. Herrity wanted jobs to stay in the county, elective politics, Herrity also failed at bids

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:04 Mar 13, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR17FE06.DAT BR17FE06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE February 17, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2125 for Virginia governor in 2001 and county GOP On February 4, 1996, Dan Reagan was ap- Drum, NY where he is awaiting deployment to chairman in 2004. pointed the Federal Highway Administration’s Iraq sometime this year. Born in Arlington, reared in Prince Division Administrator for Texas. With a staff Marci was Vice President of City State Bank George’s County and educated at St. Antho- of 50 employees, he was responsible for deliv- in Ogden, IA where she was employed for 26 ny’s High School in the District (now All years. She was also a real estate loan officer. Saints High School), John Frances Herrity ering the second largest Federal-aid Program was the product of a working-class Irish in the Nation and implementing FHWA’s Na- In addition, Marci served as treasurer for the Catholic family of elevator mechanics, union tional Strategic Plan throughout Texas, in part- Ogden Scholarship & Loan Foundation, which leaders and loyal Democrats. He spent much nership with the Texas Department of Trans- is a private loan foundation providing over of his youth hustling on the basketball portation. While serving as the Texas Division one-half million dollars in scholarships to court. Administrator, Dan Reagan established the Ogden community members. After high school and a tour in the Coast FHWA’s first International Programs Engineer Mr. Speaker, Marci was a role model and Guard, the rambunctious young Herrity set- position for the entire Texas border, created a mentor for many children and adults in Ogden. tled down to his studies at Georgetown Uni- She served as an advisor, friend, and pillar of versity, where he earned undergraduate and forum known as the Texas Environmental Re- law degrees and met his first wife. source Stewards that brings together the lead- support to people of all ages. She was loved After marrying in 1958, he eventually went ers of state and federal agencies impacting for her kind spirit, her strong sense of patriot- into the insurance business, where he worked transportation to resolve issues in advance, ism, and her ability to clearly live her life as a consultant after his return to the pri- and paved the way for such landmark public- based on the principles of respect and dignity vate sector. private partnerships as TTC–35, TTC–69, and for others. Marci worked side-by-side with It did not take long for Herrity to jump the Central Texas Turnpike Project. Brian to build one of the most successful into local civic affairs. He soon formed a Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to honor and wrestling programs in the state of Iowa. She homeowners association and became the worked hand-in-hand with Ogden parents and local Democratic precinct captain. But like thank Dan Reagan and his family, on the oc- many Democrats in his era, he became alien- casion of his retirement, for a lifelong profes- athletes to promote the true spirit of athletics ated with his party’s lurch to the left and sional commitment of service to the traveling and helped shape many young athletes into switched to the GOP just in time for his first public. I wish Dan Reagan much happiness responsible American citizens. run for office—that of Springfield District and good health in the years to come. Education held a high priority in her life and she encouraged many young men and women supervisor in 1971. f f to further their education and make a dif- PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARCI ference in the world. A scholarship has been HONORING CURTIS DANIEL ‘‘DAN’’ BERKA REIMERS established in her honor for one young woman REAGAN each year through the Board of Directors at HON. JON C. PORTER City State Bank. Marci was an active member HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON OF NEVADA of Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden, IA, where OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she taught Sunday school and served on nu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES merous church committees throughout her life. Thursday, February 16, 2006 Her faith in God was remarkable and she Thursday, February 16, 2006 Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demonstrated a life example for all those she Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today honor the life of my good friend, Marci Berka touched. to honor Curtis Daniel ‘‘Dan’’ Reagan of Aus- Reimers. Mr. Speaker, as one of two boys, I always tin, Texas. Dan Reagan has been a champion Marci was born on May 21, 1957 at considered Marci the little sister I never had, for quality transportation and his leadership, Crawford County Hospital in Denison, IA. She and regarded her as a member of my own knowledge, and vision have helped improve was the second of four children born to Marvin family. the safety and reliability of the Texas transpor- and Donna Berka. Marci had two sisters and f tation system. a brother named Randy, who I am proud to HONORING ARMY SPEC. SERGIO Dan Reagan began his career with the Fed- call my best friend. ANTONIO MERCEDES SAEZ eral Highway Administration (FHWA), then the After graduating from Humboldt Community Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), on June 12, High School in 1975, Marci married Brian 1967 following his graduation from the Univer- Reimers on November 29 of that same year. HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL sity of Texas at Austin. He spent almost 3 As a young couple they lived in Maryville, MO OF NEW YORK years in the BPR Highway Engineer Training while Brian attended Northwest Missouri State IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Program, learning all phases of organizational University. Marci worked in retail while Brian Thursday, February 16, 2006 responsibility and honing his engineering and was in college. In 1977, Brian accepted a Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to management skills in Point Reyes, California; teaching position at Riceville, IA and they lived honor Army Spec. Sergio Antonio Mercedes Olympia, Washington; Payson, Arizona; Wash- in that community for two years. In 1979 they Saez, a 23 year old soldier who lost his life on ington, D.C.; Tallahassee, Florida; Ft. Worth, moved to Ogden, IA where Marci was instru- Sunday, February 5th in Iraq. He leaves be- Texas; and Austin, Texas. Mr. Reagan then mental in helping her husband build a first- hind a grieving family and a legacy of service held numerous positions in Baton Rouge, Lou- time wrestling program for that community. and sacrifice of which our community is proud. isiana, and Montgomery, Alabama, including Brian has been a teacher, coach, and athletic Mr. Mercedes, born in Puerto Rico, split his Assistant Area Engineer, Area Engineer, As- director at Ogden High School for 26 years, childhood between New York’s Washington sistant Planning Engineer, Planning Engineer, and he will be inducted in the Iowa High Heights and his parents’ native Dominican Re- and Research Engineer. While stationed in School Wrestling Hall of Fame this month. public before enlisting in the military three Baton Rouge, Mr. Reagan attended graduate Marci and Brian were blessed with two sons, years ago. He was serving his second tour of school at Louisiana State University, taking Luke and Seth. duty, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd In- classes in Transportation Engineering. Luke was born November 7, 1978. He grad- fantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, In June 1981, Mr. Reagan was assigned to uated from Simpson College in Indianola, IA. 101st Airborne Division, when the vehicle that the former FHWA Region One Office in Al- He and his wife Kara, who live in Waukee, IA, he was riding accidentally rolled over in a bany, New York, where he held several posi- gave Marci and Brian the gift of a grand- canal. tions, including Director of Planning, Director daughter on February 10, 2005. Ella Grace Like so many of our young people, Mr. Mer- of Planning and Program Development, and has been the joy of her grandmother’s eyes. cedes was full of hopes and dreams, not only Deputy Regional Administrator. As the Deputy, Seth was born April 18, 1982. He graduated for himself, but also for his wife Jocelyn and he was responsible for all aspects of the Fed- from Northwest Missouri State University in his soon to be born son, which they had eral-aid Program in the eight Northeast States, 2004. While attending NWMSU he was in agreed to name Christopher Alejandro. He the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Army ROTC and received the George C. Mar- planned on bringing them both back to live in Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Then from shall ROTC award in 2004. Following gradua- my district, where so many of his family still October 1994 to July 1995, Dan became the tion, Seth became a U.S. Army Ranger and is live and where he could take advantage of his Acting Regional Administrator. currently a 2nd Lieutenant stationed at Fort G.I. benefits to get an education.

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