[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 A TRIBUTE TO MONSIGNOR WILLIAM A. KERR

                                 ______


                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 1995
  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to pay tribute to 
Monsignor William A. Kerr, Ph.D., President of La Roche College in 
Pittsburgh, PA, who has been selected by the Myasthenia Gravis 
Association of western Pennsylvania to receive its Celebration of Life 
and Services Award.
  Monsignor Kerr will be honored in Pittsburgh on April 8, 1995, by the 
Myasthenia Gravis Association of western Pennsylvania for his 
leadership in celebrating the dignity of life and the need to bring all 
people together to address human needs. The Myasthenia Gravis 
Association of western Pennsylvania is an organization dedicated to 
helping those whose lives are affected by a neuromuscular disorder. It 
is estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 individuals are affected by 
Myasthenia Gravis [MG] but there are several treatment options 
available that can improve the quality of life and increase the 
ultimate life expectancy for the person with MG. This organization 
selects individuals each year to receive its Celebration of Life and 
Services Award to recognize those who have demonstrated an outstanding 
commitment to serving others and uplifting the human spirit.
  Monsignor William A. Kerr is exceptionally well qualified to receive 
the 1995 Celebration of Life and Services Award. He has provided La 
Roche College with remarkable academic leadership while also sharing 
with the local community and the Nation his commitment to uniting 
individuals in a common campaign to improve the human condition. 
Monsignor Kerr has worked to establish at La Roche College the Pacem In 
Terris Institute, a center for alternative thinking about modern 
violence. Through this Institute, he has displayed his dedication to 
promoting conflict resolution in both American society and in the 
international arena. He has brought in students from war-torn Eastern 
Europe to study at La Roche College and he has helped to forge a 
partnership between La Roche College and Passivant Hospital.
  Monsignor Kerr quickly emerged as a valued resident of the Pittsburgh 
area since becoming the sixth president of La Roche College in 1992. 
Under his leadership, La Roche has achieved great growth in student 
enrollments and this achievement has been marked by the largest first-
year class and the largest number of international students in the 
college's 32 year history. Monsignor Kerr is also a member of the Board 
of Directors of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the 
Presidential Leadership Development Council of the American Council of 
Education, based in Washington, DC, and he is on the International 
Affairs Board of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities. 
Before coming to La Roche College, Monsignor Kerr was vice president 
for university relations at The Catholic University of America in 
Washington, DC.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that the Members of the U.S. House of 
Representatives should have this opportunity to join in paying tribute 
to Monsignor William A. Kerr, 1995 recipient of the Celebration of Life 
and Services Award. I am pleased to join with the Myasthenia Gravis 
Association of western Pennsylvania in saluting Monsignor Kerr.


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