E978 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 23, 2020 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. JOSEPH I. powered the lives of Mexican natives in the My deepest condolences go out to Jack’s CASTRO BEING NAMED CHAN- United States. many family members and friends. He will be CELLOR OF THE I ask my colleagues to join me in congratu- greatly missed. STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM lating Dr. Castro for all of his achievements. f On behalf of a grateful Central Valley and HON. TJ COX State of California, we look forward to his fu- REVEREND DR. ALFRED GORDON OF CALIFORNIA ture accomplishments and what he will do for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES California State University students HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL everywhere. OF NEW YORK Friday, October 23, 2020 f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Joseph I. Castro REMEMBERING JOSEPH ‘‘JACK’’ Friday, October 23, 2020 on being named the eighth Chancellor of the MEEHAN Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, it is my honor California State University system. Dr. Castro and privilege to recognize one of my constitu- will be the first California native and the first HON. ents, Reverend Dr. Alfred Gordon, who has Mexican American to hold the chancellorship. OF CALIFORNIA served the City of Mount Vernon, New York In his role as Chancellor, he will oversee 23 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for more than 50 years in ministry. Reverend campuses and 486,000 students throughout Dr. Alfred Gordon has served our nation both Friday, October 23, 2020 our nation’s largest four-year higher education through his service in the United States Ma- system. Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam rine Corps and through his work in ministry Dr. Castro was born and raised in the small Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Joseph improving the quality of life for the people of city of Hanford, in the heart of California’s ‘‘Jack’’ Meehan, who passed away recently at Mount Vernon, especially our most vulnerable Central Valley. The grandson of Mexican im- the age of 88. populations. In honor of his 86th birthday, it is migrants and the son of a single mother, Dr. Born and raised in San Francisco, Jack my privilege to acknowledge the work he has Castro knows well the challenges so many graduated from the University of San Fran- done to better his community and his contribu- young men and women face in their pursuit of cisco (USF) in 1954. Following service in the tion to our nation as a whole. He has set a higher education. Like many of his students, United States Army, Jack went to USF for law high standard for civic engagement and serv- Dr. Castro is a first-generation college grad- school; he earned his law degree in 1959. ice to one’s community, and he is a well-re- uate. He earned a B.A. in political science, a In 1960, Jack joined the Alameda County spected and integral part of the City of Mount M.P.P. from the University of California, District Attorney’s (ACDA) Office. While there Vernon. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to Berkeley, and later a Ph.D. in higher-edu- he created Point of View, a monthly publica- recognize Reverend Dr. Alfred Gordon on this cation policy and leadership from Stanford tion, and Points and Authorities, a weekly special occasion. University. video series, to help teach California prosecu- f Since 2013, Dr. Castro has served as Presi- tors. He was recognized for his accomplish- dent of California State University, Fresno. ments by being presented with the 1978 Pros- INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO Under his leadership, Fresno State attained a ecutor of the Year award by the California Dis- ALLOW CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS national ranking as one of the top universities trict Attorneys Association (CDAA). WITH PRIOR SERVICE UNDER in the country. The school was also recog- In 1981 Jack was appointed Alameda Coun- THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RE- nized for its commitment and achievements to ty District Attorney. He was reelected unop- TIREMENT SYSTEM TO MAKE diversity. More than 60 percent of Fresno posed in 1982, 1986, and 1990. He did not DEPOSITS TOWARDS ANNUITIES State’s recent graduating class are the first in run for reelection in 1994. UNDER THE CIVIL SERVICE AND their families to attend a four-year institution. Jack was affectionately known as the ‘‘Big RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE As President, Dr. Castro has led by example, Guy’’ at the ACDA Office, beloved by all of his FEDERAL EMPLOYEES RETIRE- encouraging Fresno State students, faculty, colleagues. His leadership, respect for our MENT SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER and staff to ‘‘Be Bold’’ in order to meet and system of justice, and concern for victims of PURPOSES overcome any challenge that would limit aca- crime will be long-remembered. demic, personal or professional growth. It also should be noted that as district attor- HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON As an advocate for Fresno State and the ney Jack hired a young , now OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA California State University system, Dr. Castro a United States senator from California and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES serves on numerous boards, including the His- the Democratic Party’s nominee to be vice panic Association of Colleges and Universities’ president of the United States, to be a deputy Friday, October 23, 2020 Governing Board, WASC Senior College and district attorney. Clearly he could spot talent Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I in- University Commission, Mountain West Ath- when he saw it. troduce a bill to correct a retirement issue for letic Conference Board, and the Stanford Uni- Jack was well-recognized for his lifetime of several categories of workers who used to be versity Graduate School of Education Advisory career success and community service. USF under the District of Columbia retirement sys- Council. Before becoming President of Fresno awarded him its alumnus of the year award in tem. State, he served for 23 years in the University 1994, and four years later it created the John In 1997, Congress transferred several cat- of California system. From 2006 to 2013, he J. Meehan Alumni Fellowship to honor USF egories of workers who participated in D.C.’s was Vice Chancellor of Student Academic Af- alumni who help develop young lawyers. defined contribution plan from 1987 to 1997 to fairs and Professor of Family and Community CDAA created the John J. Meehan Career the Federal Employees Retirement System Medicine at the University of California, San Prosecutor Award, to recognize lawyers for (FERS). However, those workers’ service from Francisco. career achievement in criminal prosecution. 1987 to 1997 was not counted for purposes of Earlier in his career, he held faculty and ad- And, in 2003, the Saint Thomas More Society creditable service or annuity amount in FERS. ministrative leadership positions at four other of San Francisco present him with its Saint In 2009, Congress gave these employees the University of California campuses including Thomas Moore award. right to have this service counted for cred- Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Barbara. While Jack had many professional suc- itable service. Dr. Castro has received five Excellence and cesses, it was his family that mattered most. My bill would correct this last retirement Innovation Award from the American Associa- He and his wife, Janet, were married for 59 issue for these public servants. It would allow tion of State Colleges and Universities for his years, before she died in 2017. They had four these workers to buy into the FERS annuity accomplishments at Fresno State. In 2018, he children—sons John Matthew (‘‘Matt’’), James amount for the 1987–1997 by paying 1.3 per- was named as CSU President of the Year by Patrick (‘‘Jim’’), and Mark Emmitt, and a cent of their base pay plus interest, essentially the California State Student Association. In daughter, Anne Marie (who passed away in the employee contribution for this time, and 2016, he received the Alumni Excellence in 1968). then allowing them the full retirement benefit Education Award from the Stanford University It was mostly in San Rafael where Jack and to which they are entitled. Graduate School of Education. Dr. Castro has Janet raised their family. There they hosted Our bill is an important step to assisting also been honored with the Ohtli Award, which many a family event, at which Jack showed these workers to get the retirement benefits is highest honor granted by the Government of his talents for playing piano and bartending they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support Mexico to recognize leaders who have em- that he honed over the years. this bill.

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