[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9570-S9571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  PAUL BRUHN--1995 HARRIS AWARD WINNER

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, early last month, Paul Bruhn of 
South Burlington, Vermont, received the 1995 Harris Award. Paul is the 
Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, and I know 
that he was given the Award because of his life-long devotion to 
improving the Burlington area and helping Vermont in all things. He was 
recognized as the Downtown Business Person of the Year, and the honor 
is justly deserved.
  During the past 20 years, I cannot remember a thing done to help 
Burlington that did not involve Paul Bruhn. Those of us who think of 
Burlington as home know how much we owe to Paul. I ask that two 
articles from the Burlington Free Press regarding Paul, be printed in 
the Record.
  The articles follow:

             [From the Burlington Free Press, May 5, 1995]

                     Architect, Consultant Honored

                           (By Stacey Chase)

       Breaking with tradition, the Downtown Burlington 
     Development Association has announced the winners of the 
     Nathan Harris and Hertzel Pasackow awards that will be 
     presented at the association's annual dinner May 11.
       The 1995 Harris Award will be given to Paul Bruhn, 
     executive director of the Non-profit Preservation Trust of 
     Vermont and a private public affairs consultant. This year's 
     Pasackow Award goes to Bob Miller for the development of his 
     namesake building, Miller's Landmark, on the Church Street 
     Marketplace.
       ``I was surprised, flattered, a little embarrassed but very 
     appreciative,'' said Bruhn, 48, of South Burlington.
       The Harris Award has been given since 1978 to the person 
     ``who best emulates the enthusiasm, dedication and foresight 
     of Nate Harris in maintaining and improving the economic 
     vitality of the Burlington central business district.''
       ``Paul Bruhn has been involved and concerned with the 
     vitality of downtown Burlington all of his life,'' said Ed 
     Moore, executive director of the development association. 
     ``And the interesting part of Paul's accomplishment and 
     contribution is that he's never in the limelight; he's always 
     been behind the scenes working very, very hard.''
       The Pasackow Award has been given since 1984 for 
     significant contribution to the physical or architectural 
     quality of downtown Burlington. Miller's Landmark contains 15 
     stores and office space.
       ``When J.C. Penny chose to leave the city, the thought of a 
     vacant shell of a building caused concern for many in 
     downtown,'' Moore said. ``Then Bobby Miller purchased the 
     building, created a vision and began implementation of a plan 
     that is represented by that building as we know it today.''
       Miller, 59, of Shelburne is president of REM Development 
     Co. The Williston company is a commercial and industrial 
     development firm.
       ``I think the building certainly has increased the identity 
     of that upper block,'' Miller said. ``And it's been kind of a 
     fun project.''
       Both Harris and Pasackow were founding members of the 
     development association. The late Nathan Harris started 
     Nate's men's clothing store; the late Hertzel Pasackow 
     started Mayfair women's clothing store.
       Moore said the decision to announce the winner before the 
     annual dinner was made this year to give the recipients 
     greater recognition for their work.
       ``We thought we could get a better turnout if people 
     knew,'' Moore said.
             [From the Burlington Free Press, May 12, 1995]

                     Pasackow, Harris Awards Given

                            (By Candy Page)

       In a bittersweet moment Thursday evening, the Pasackow 
     family, whose Church Street clothing store is closing, 
     presented 

[[Page S9571]]
     the H. Hertzel Pasackow Award to Robert Miller of Miller's Landmark, 
     one of downtown's newest businesses.
       The award, for architectural excellence, was one of two 
     presented by the Downtown Burlington Development Association 
     to downtown leaders.
       The audience of 200 gave a standing ovation to Paul Bruhn, 
     who received the Nate Harris Award as the downtown 
     businessperson of the year.
       Bruhn, executive director of the Preservation Trust of 
     Vermont, was recognized for 20 years of behind-the-scenes 
     work in helping to create the Church Street Marketplace and 
     to keep it strong.
       ``I'm proud to have been part of this Marketplace,'' Jay 
     Pasackow said as he presented the Pasackow award to Miller.
       Pasackow said Miller's $3.5 million renovation of the 
     former J.C. Penny building meant that ``what was potential 
     urban decay became a jewel for downtown.''
       Miller said he was sad the Pasackow family is closing their 
     business but that he is excited about the Marketplace's 
     future.
       Bruhn's work has been less visible than Miller's.
       As an aide to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy in the 1970s, Bruhn 
     helped obtain the seven federal grants that helped finance 
     creation of the Church Street pedestrian mall.
       Mayor Peter Clavelle praised Bruhn for more recent work, 
     organizing opposition to suburban mega-developments like Wal-
     Mart and Pyramid mall.
       ``Paul has been the most persistent and effective organizer 
     of opposition to Pyramid and Wal-Mart . . . and downtown 
     Burlington would not be what it is today if Pyramid or Wal-
     Mart had been built,'' the mayor said.
     

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