E544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 4, 2009 RECOGNITION OF THE PASSING IN HONOR OF JOHN JOSEPH Whereas, Tuscarawas County Council for AND LIFE OF WILBERT ‘‘BILL’’ ‘‘WACKO’’ HURLEY OF SOUTH Church and Community has been faithfully TATUM BOSTON, MA serving the community of Tuscarawas County since 1966; and HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH Whereas, the Tuscarawas County Council OF MASSACHUSETTS for Church and Community has participated in OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Character Counts! Week,’’ a character build- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, March 4, 2009 ing program meant to instill six pillars of char- Wednesday, March 4, 2009 acter in children, from October 19–25; and Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in Whereas, the ‘‘Character Counts!’’ program Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, once in a honor of John Joseph ‘‘Wacko’’ Hurley, in rec- while someone leaves this Earth and their teaches young people about the six pillars of ognition of his outstanding contributions to his character—trustworthiness, respect, responsi- life’s story needs to be told, not just because hometown of South Boston, MA, and to com- it’s interesting, but because it illustrates les- bility, fairness, caring, and citizenship—and is mend him for over 50 years of dedicated serv- an enrichment and community extension of sons that should be passed along. Madam ice to his community. the Tuscarawas County Council for Church Speaker, I rise today to recall the life Wilbert The son of Margaret and Michael Hurley, ‘‘Bill’’ Tatum, longtime publisher of the immigrants from County Kerry, Ireland, John and Community Character Formation Pro- Amsterd News and my personal friend, who, was born on May 11, 1930 in South Boston gram, now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of to the sadness and shock of my community, and lived on East Fifth St. until 1965 when he the 18th Congressional District, I commend died suddenly last week. Bill lived the life that moved to East Fourth St. in South Boston the participants of the ‘‘Character Counts!’’ people dream of and few attain, and while where he currently resides. program on their commitment to citizenship doing so became a friend, mentor, and ‘‘broth- John attended Nazareth School at O and and respect of themselves and one another. I er’’ to countless people. Third St., and South Boston High School grad- also commend those involved in the program In the early 1970s, Mr. Tatum, along with uating in 1948. Subsequent to his graduation, for their dedication to the youth of our commu- former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall and John enlisted in the United States Navy, serv- nity and preparing them for lives of thoughtful- former Manhattan borough president Percy ing from 1950–1952 aboard the USS Noah ness, respect, and civic responsibility. Sutton, bought the Amsterdam News. This (DD–841). venture into the news industry reflected their Upon completion of his distinguished service f to our country, John worked for the State Vet- longtime involvement in civic activism and EARMARK DECLARATIONS passion for their community. Bill maximized erans Services for 20 years. Following this po- sition, John worked as an office manager for his passion as the paper’s publisher, a role for HON. GARY G. MILLER which his life prepared him. the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Author- OF CALIFORNIA Bill’s voice goes back to his high school ora- ity for 18 years. Along with providing distinguished service to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tory competition days in North Carolina. He his country and his state, John is also an ac- was a journalist, writing for three small news- Wednesday, March 4, 2009 tive member of his community. A faithful pa- papers that provided information to Black rishioner at St. Brigid’s Church in South Bos- Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Madam farmers. He served his country in the Marine ton, John can be found daily at the 7 a.m. Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leader- Corps, graduated from Lincoln University in early morning mass followed by his walk ship standards on earmarks, I am submitting Pennsylvania, and received his master’s de- around Castle Island. John also brought to the the following information regarding earmarks I gree from Occidental College in Los Angeles. United States Supreme Court the case (John received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus. In New York, he was a community activist who J. Hurley v. GLIB) that affirmed the First Requesting Member: Congressman GARY served as deputy Manhattan Borough Presi- Amendment right of the South Boston Allied G. MILLER dent under Percy Sutton’s borough presidency War Veterans Council to organize a private Bill Number: H.R. 1105 and held various city-level posts. parade. He won a victory with a 9–0 vote. This Account: Natural Resources Conservation Under Bill’s ownership, the Amsterdam law can now be found in every law book in the Service, Resource Conservation and Develop- News was a brash and controversial voice for country. In fact, John has organized the Evac- ment the Black community, regularly scorching poli- uation Day/St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Municipal ticians like 1970’s Mayor Ed Koch. He was Boston for the past 50 years. Water District of Orange County one of the angriest—and most eloquent—of John was recently awarded the Bishop Address of Requesting Entity: 18700 Ward voices on issues of politics, civil rights, and Cheverus Medal from Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92728 community action. What some perceived as Archbishop of Boston, for Community Service Funding Secured: $134,000 sensational journalism, we in the community and Catholic Dedication. You will find John Description of Request: Funding will be knew reflected the honest views of the pub- every Thanksgiving and Christmas at St. used to expand an existing $2.2 million pro- lisher and his readers. At the same time, he Monica/St. Augustine serving holiday meals to gram launched in 2004 to distribute an addi- filled the pages with colorful articles on social the less fortunate. tional 5,500 Smart Irrigation Controllers by the and community happenings. Madam Speaker, John is known for his end of 2011 to the highest water using resi- Bill was a gentleman who loved people and quick sense of humor and great storytelling. dential and commercial properties in Orange derived no bigger joy than helping his commu- He has had the good fortune to be married to County. This ‘‘smart’’ Irrigation Controller tech- nity. He gave opportunities to scores of bud- Molly for 56 years; they are the proud parents nology assists customers in delivering the ap- ding journalists and was a friend and profes- of 7 children, 15 grandchildren, and 2 great propriate amount of irrigation water to land- sional mentor to many. A kind and decent per- grandchildren. scape based on soil, slope, type of landscape, son with a keen sense of humor, Bill was a Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to and changing water conditions. Smart irriga- man for all seasons and fierce defender of the take the floor of the House today to join with tion controllers will help use exiting water re- causes he believed in. Despite an illness that John J. ‘‘Wacko’’ Hurley’s family, friends, and sources and efficiently as possible to help take confined him to a wheelchair, he and his be- contemporaries to thank him for his remark- pressure off of our imported water supplies loved wife Susan continued their travels able service to his community of South Bos- from Northern California and the Colorado around the world. He entrusted his daughter ton. River. When fully implemented there will be a Eli to succeed him as publisher and editor, f reoccurring 40,000 acre foot savings of water and she has done an admirable and success- A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE every year. ful job in filling his shoes. TUSCARAWAS COUNTY COUNCIL Requesting Member: Congressman GARY Wilbert Bill Tatum will be remembered as an FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY G. MILLER honorable man of tough love, who used his Bill Number: H.R. 1105 brilliant mind and the First Amendment to de- HON. ZACHARY T. SPACE Account: Community Oriented Policing Serv- nounce injustices he saw in his community. ices’ Law Enforcement Technology Program OF OHIO His life reminds us that the greatest love we Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES can share with others is the power to speak Brea up and be honest about where we are and Wednesday, March 4, 2009 Address of Requesting Entity: 1 Civic Cen- where we need to go. I will miss him dearly. Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: ter Circle, Brea, CA 92821

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:01 Mar 05, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A04MR8.007 E04MRPT1 jbell on PROD1PC69 with REMARKS