[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             HOWARD TINNEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Franks] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, last Friday night I attended 
a testimonial in honor of former alderman and police commissioner 
Howard Tinney of Ansonia, CT. Mr. Tinney has had some medical problems 
of late and the 400-plus people in attendance at the Rapp's Restaurant 
wanted to honor him for all the good work he has done for the city of 
Ansonia and for the State of Connecticut.
  As a black Republican for three decades, Howard Tinney has been a 
political inspiration for many of us, myself included. We actually have 
a lot in common beyond being black Republicans. We both have grown up 
in the same city which we live in today. We both have beautiful wives, 
Donna for myself and Esther for Mr. Tinney. We both have three 
children. We both have lovely mothers that are alive and well. We both 
served on the board of directors of our local YMCA's. And we were both 
all-star athletes, though he was far better than I had ever hoped to 
be.
  We were both the first black Republicans to have been elected to the 
board of aldermen in our respective cities. Howard served as a police 
commissioner, and I served as a fire commissioner.
  Howard Tinney, however, accomplished his feats more than 10 years 
before I even got involved in politics. Howard Tinney was a 
trailblazer. He made it easier for people like myself.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, Howard Tinney has been an outstanding parent, 
husband, role model, and community leader. We have been blessed to have 
had the good fortune to have been able to have worked, played, cried, 
and laughed with a man of Howard's caliber. May God continue to bless 
you and your family, Howard Tinney.

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