[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ELIAS, WILLIAM MORGAN, AND GABRIEL KASSAB

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 1996

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, the March of Dimes is an organization with a 
noble mission: to fight birth defects and childhood disease. We all 
share the March of Dimes dream which is that every child should have 
the opportunity to live a health life.
  For the past 12 years, the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the March of 
Dimes Birth Defects Foundation has honored several Macomb County 
residents who are outstanding members of our community and have helped 
in the campaign for healthier babies. On the evening of Wednesday, 
September 25, 1996, the chapter will be hosting the 13th annual 
Alexander Macomb Citizen of the Year award dinner. The award, 
instituted in 1984, is named after my home country's namesake, Gen. 
Alexander Macomb, a hero of the War of 1812.
  This year, the March of Dimes has chosen Louis Elias, William Morgan, 
and Gabriel Kassab as recipients of the Family of the Year Award. The 
Elias family executives can be counted on to devote time and money to 
numerous charitable and civic groups. Mr. Elias is known as a quiet 
philanthropist. His generous donations over the years have benefited 
many charitable organizations. Mr. Kassab has been active in several 
civic and social groups. He has also served on the executive board of 
the Boys Scouts of America. Mr. Morgan was instrumental in instituting 
the service club system of operations which annually returns over $2 
million to the community. The Elias family members have been ardent 
backers of the March of Dimes' dream of erasing birth defects.
  I applaud the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the March of Dimes and 
the Elias Family for their leadership, advocacy, and community service. 
The Elias Brothers are living proof that the business community meets 
their civic responsibility. I am sure that the Elias families are 
honored by the recognition and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
saluting them as the 1996 recipients of the Alexander Macomb Family of 
the Year Award.

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