[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     RECOGNITION OF LARRY ECCLESTON

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 1995
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Larry Eccleston, 
an outstanding individual who has given generously of his time and 
effort to the senior citizens of Jersey City and the Nation. He has 
been active in the community all his life and has championed many 
worthwhile causes.
  Larry grew up in Jersey City, attending St. Aeden's Grammar School 
and Lincoln High School. He graduated cum laude from St. Peter's 
College with a bachelor of science degree in urban studies. He then 
went on to earn a master of science degree in urban affairs at Hunter 
College in New York City.
  Larry serves as an ordained elder in the Old Bergen Reform Church, 
and as a result of this involvement, he became deeply involved in the 
issue of homelessness and hunger. He was president of the Association 
of Shared Ministries, an organization of five urban churches dedicated 
to community service and social outreach. He helped establish ``Let's 
Celebrate,'' a cooperative effort of 23 Jersey City churches to fight 
hunger, which now runs 13 food pantries and a soup kitchen. Because of 
his distinguished service to the homeless, Larry was appointed to form 
and chair the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness.
  For the past 10 years, he has worked for the Department of Health and 
Human Services of Jersey City as the supervisor of senior citizen 
outreach and referral programs. His innovative programs for seniors as 
well as his efforts in the field of aging earned him an appointment to 
the New Jersey State Commission on Aging in 1992 by Governor Jim Florio 
of New Jersey. He was again nominated for reappointment by Governor 
Whitman, and was elected by the commission in August of 1994 to serve 
as chairman.
  In November of 1994, I was honored to nominate Larry as a delegate to 
the White House Conference on Aging, which was established by President 
Clinton to develop policies for older Americans for the 21st century. 
Larry continues to work hard in the field of aging and now serves as 
the president of the board of directors for Senior Support Services 
Inc., an organization which runs the senior nutrition sites and two 
local senior centers. He is currently on the advisory board of Foster 
Grandparents of Hudson County, and is their fund raising chairman. At 
the State level, Larry now serves on the board of directors of the New 
Jersey Society on Aging, and the United Senior Alliance.
  When senior citizens need help, they know they can count on Larry 
Eccleston. I am proud to recognize Larry's accomplishments, and I asked 
my colleagues to join me in saluting this great American.


                          ____________________