[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 83 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               USA KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN LONG BRANCH, NJ

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 1995
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, May 21, 1995, the New Jersey 
State Championship of USA Karate will be held at the Long Branch, NJ, 
Middle School. It will be an honor and a privilege for me to be in 
attendance at what promises to be a most exciting and impressive 
display of the martial arts.
  Mr. Speaker, at Sunday's event, over 300 competitors of all ages, all 
rankings, and all styles will be competing at their respective levels. 
The winners will qualify for the national championship which will be 
held in Akron, OH, in August. This year marks the 7th consecutive year 
that the New Jersey championship has been held in Long Branch.
  Recently, I joined with Senator Bradley of New Jersey in working to 
have USA Karate included in the Pan-American games held in Argentina in 
March. These fine American athletes competed and won seven medals, 
finishing third over all. It was an honor to get behind this 
initiative, which has brought honor and distinction not only to the 
competitors, but to our country as a whole.
  Mr. Speaker, the credit for these successes is due largely to the 
work of Mr. Walter J. O'Neill, Jr., of Long Branch, NJ, and his wife, 
Patricia Booth-O'Neill. In 1979, Mr. O'Neill started the Atlantic 
Karate Academy in Long Branch. Walter and Patricia now serve as chief 
instructors. Mr. O'Neill, a black belt in several martial art 
disciplines, is a member of the World Karate Federation Organizing 
Committee, one of only three Americans on this board. He serves as a 
member of committees intended to get karate into both the Pan-American 
games and the Olympic games. The Atlantic Academy holds a number of 
distinctions, having produced hundreds of State and national champions.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege for me to pay tribute to 
Walter and Patricia O'Neill, the Atlantic Karate Academy, and all the 
fine athletes who will compete on Sunday.
Vol. 141


WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1995

No. 83


House of Representatives