[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1306-E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JIM MASUCCI RETIRES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 1996

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, after 41 years with Capital Cities/
ABC, and after 26 years at KTRK-TV in Houston--the last 6 years as 
president and general manager--Jim Masucci has decided its time to 
retire. I want to take a moment to salute Jim--both for his successful 
career in the television industry, but also for his outstanding record 
of community service.
  Jim is not just a highly talented television executive. He is a 
friend with whom I've consulted on a number of telecommunications 
issues over the years. He is also a respected member of his community 
who has devoted his time and talents to a variety of civic programs 
that have touched the lives of tens of thousands of Houston-area 
residents.
  Jim began his television career in 1956 as a member of the production 
staff of the original Capital Cities Communications station--WTEN-TV in 
Albany, NY. He later served as the station's director-producer, 
production manager and then programming director. While working at 
WTEN, Jim was responsible for producing 10 cerebral palsy telethons and 
received the George Washington Medal of Freedom for Excellence in 
Children's Programming.
  In 1970, Jim moved to Houston to become operations manager at KTRK-
TV, another Capital Cities Communications station. While serving as 
channel 13's operations manager, he produced the first televised Vince 
Lombardi Awards program, and was instrumental in the development of the 
televised Jefferson Awards ceremony. Jim also played a key role in 
developing ``Good Morning Houston,'' one of the Nation's most-watched 
local talk shows.
  That kind of success caught the attention of corporate management. In 
1983, while still serving as operations manager of channel 13, Jim was 
named divisional vice president for Capital Cities. In 1986, Capital 
Cities acquired the ABC television network and became Capital Cities-
ABC. Following that merger, Jim was named vice president of the 
broadcast division at Capital Cities-ABC.
  But Mr. Speaker, it is Jim's record of community service that has 
made him one of the most respected broadcast executives in Texas.
  In 1983, Jim helped create the Houston Crime Stoppers program, which 
aids the police in locating, and apprehending, suspects in unsolved 
crimes. JIm has served on the board of the Houston Crime Stoppers 
program--as well as on the board of the Houston's Area Urban League and 
the Houston Symphony.
  Jim also has been recognized for a number of innovative community 
service efforts, including the Jefferson Awards, the Vince Lombardi 
Awards, the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial celebration, the 1988 
Challenger Center gala, and the 1990 Night of the Thousand Lights: A 
Houston Crackdown Celebration.
  It was his work with the Houston Metropolitan Area Youth Soccer 
League that best illustrates the energy--and the success--that Jim 
brings to any project in which he's involved. Initially, organizers 
hoped that 1,500 inner-city youths would participate in the program. 
Due

[[Page E1307]]

to Jim's hard work, and the publicity given the program by KTRK-TV, 
7,000 young boys and girls signed up--making the program the most 
successful such effort in the country.
  I am a dyed-in-the-wool Texan--whose great grandfather fought for 
Texas, and the Confederacy, in the War Between the States. Having said 
that, I want to add that Jim Masucci is the kind of Yankee that we 
Texans respect, admire and love--even if he does talk funny.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join with me in wishing Jim--and his 
lovely wife, Diane--the very best in the years ahead. We thank Jim for 
his work at KTRK-TV, as well as his long and distinguished record of 
community service. I know that even in retirement, Jim is the type of 
individual who will remain active, making a difference for many, many 
Houstonians.

                          ____________________