[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



                          RICHARD T. LEARY DAY

                                 ______


                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 1994

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on the night of September 
29, the people of the town of Brookline, MA, and many others will 
gather to honor an extraordinarily dedicated public servant--Richard 
Leary. Richard Leary has been the town administrator of Brookline since 
1985, the year the post was first created. For 60 years before that. He 
served as the executive secretary of the town, prior to which he spent 
9 years as assistant to the executive secretary in Brookline and 6 
years as an assistant to the city manager of Medford.
  This means that Dick Leary is finishing 40 years of public service 
this year, 34 of which have been on behalf of the town of Brookline. 
People got to know something about Brookline when Michael Dukakis, the 
town's most prominent citizen, ran for President in 1988. They learned 
that this is an unusually interesting community--with a highly informed 
citizenry, which takes politics and government very seriously. Serving 
as the chief executive officer of a community like Brookline for 25 
years is not an easy thing. When people are passive, governing them is 
often undemanding. When a community is as active, informed, and eager 
to guide its own destiny as is the town of Brookline, it takes a very 
special set of talents to remain at its executive helm for so long.
  The fact that Dick Leary had such a long and successful tenure in 
Brookline is a tribute to him, and an indication of the extraordinary 
quality of the man.
  In an era when legislators and executives do not always get along, it 
is noteworthy that the two elected bodies that serve the town, the 
town-wide board of selectmen, and the neighborhood based representative 
town meeting, each passed resolutions in support of Dick Leary. I ask 
that they be printed here.
  And Mr. Speaker, I also seek to have included here my own extremely 
high regard for Dick Leary, and my gratitude to him. We live in a time 
when people are skeptical at best of public service, and when 
denigration is the tone most often taken when people speak of 
government. Obviously this is an unfortunate situation, and I fear 
greatly that we face an unacceptable case of a self-fulfilling 
prophecy, as people think poorly of government and those with talent 
and dedication are discouraged from going to work for it.
  That is why celebrating the career of Dick Leary is so important. 
Here is an example of a dedicated, selfless man of fundamental decency, 
integrity, and great skill who did an extraordinarily hard job for many 
years and made it look relatively easy. As you people contemplate 
whether or not a career in public service can be a rewarding one, I 
hope some of them will look at the extraordinarily rich and rewarding 
work that Richard Leary carried on and find in him an example worth 
emulating.

                   Proclamation Richard T. Leary Day

       Whereas, Town Administrator Richard T. Leary will be 
     retiring from town service on September 1, 1994 after having 
     served the town for 34 years, 25 of which as the Town's Chief 
     Administrative Officer, and
       Whereas, during his tenure in office, he has served this 
     and all previous Boards of Selectmen with distinction and 
     unquestioned loyalty, and
       Whereas, he has demonstrated the highest ideals of honor 
     and integrity in public service, never wavering in his 
     mission to serve the best interests of all the people, and
       Whereas, through his professional management and leadership 
     skills, he has made the Town of Brookline a model community 
     benefitting all the citizens of Brookline, and
       Whereas, his many accomplishments for the Town and the 
     profession of city management have been acknowledged on 
     local, state and national levels, including recognition by 
     his peers with his appointment as President of the 
     Massachusetts League of Cities and Towns and the 
     Massachusetts Municipal Managers' Association, and
       Whereas, he has set new standards in professionalism, 
     character, integrity and excellence in government, and
       Whereas, it is well that we let Richard know that his 
     extraordinary service is appreciated, that we tell him in so 
     many words that he has the gratitude of the entire citizenry 
     of Brookline; now therefore be it
       Resolved, That We, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of 
     Brookline, do hereby proclaim September 1, 1994 as ``Richard 
     T. Leary Day'' and urge all our citizens to observe it in the 
     spirit and deed.
                                  ____


                     A Resolve to Richard T. Leary

       Whereas, Town Administrator Richard T. Leary will be 
     retiring from town service on September, 1, 1994 after having 
     served the town for 34 years, 25 of which as the town's Chief 
     Administrative Officer, and
       Whereas, during his tenure in office, he demonstrated 
     professional management skills and leadership qualities of 
     the highest order which have contributed to the high standard 
     of service for which our community is noted, and
       Whereas, his many accomplishments for the Town and the 
     profession of city management have been acknowledged on 
     local, state and national levels, including recognition by 
     his peers with his appointment as President of the 
     Massachusetts League of Cities and Towns and the 
     Massachusetts Municipal Manager's Association, and
       Whereas, he has served this body and all town officials and 
     citizens in a professional and fair manner, and
       Whereas, he has been unwavering in his dedication and 
     integrity, representing all that is good in public service, 
     and
       Whereas, it is well that we let Richard know that his 
     extraordinary service is appreciated, that we tell him in so 
     many words that he has the gratitude of the entire citizenry 
     of Brookline: be it therefore
       Resolved, that the Town Meeting, as the Town of Brookline's 
     legislative body, extends to Richard a sincere thank you for 
     the important public service that he has performed with 
     distinction, together with best wishes for many years of 
     happiness in retirement.

                          ____________________