[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO BURT P. FLICKINGER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Mr. Burt P. 
Flickinger, Jr.
  Throughout his life, Burt Flickinger tirelessly dedicated himself to 
the enhancement of our western New York community. A prominent Buffalo 
businessman who began in his family's business as a floor sweeper, Mr. 
Flickinger led his company to national prominence as a premiere food 
supplier and distributor. Insistent on earning his way to the helm of 
his family's company, Mr. Flickinger served as a division manager, 
secretary, senior vice president, and eventually president.
  Burt Flickinger was No. 1 in his campus school class, attended the 
Nichols School and Philips Exeter Academy, and graduated magna cum 
laude from Harvard University.
  A true leader in recycling, Mr. Flickinger and his wife demonstrated 
a strong commitment to protecting our environment. To that end, Mr. 
Flickinger helped craft New York State's return-deposit recycling bill, 
created the Beverage Industry Collection and Sorting company [BICS] for 
food manufacturers and retailers, and initiated a recycling of plastics 
program for area supermarkets.
  In 1988, Mr. Flickinger spearheaded the effort to bring the 1993 
World University Games to Buffalo. By accomplishing this difficult task 
in his typical volunteer basis, Buffalo became the first American city 
to host this prestigious international event. Built for the games, 
Buffalo now boasts an impressive 18,000-seat football stadium at the 
University of Buffalo, a new aquatic center in the town of Tonawanda, 
and a world-class swimming pool and athletic complex at the Erie 
Community College City Campus, appropriately named the Burt Flickinger 
Athletic Center.
  Mr. Flickinger also proved instrumental in the preservation and 
subsequent growth of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Heading many 
major gifts campaigns and serving for several years as chairman of the 
finance and executive committees, Burt Flickinger almost single-
handedly kept the orchestra from bankruptcy.
  Another important project to Mr. Flickinger was the Roycroft 
Revitalization Corp. This nonprofit organization played a vital role in 
the restoration of one of western New York's most enduring landmarks, 
the historic Roycroft Inn.
  In addition, Burt Flickinger was a four-time president of the Food 
Industry Council, a founding member of the Food Bank of Western New 
York, director, treasurer, and a founding member of the Erie Recycling 
Center, chairman of the New York State Food Merchants Association, and 
permanent chairman of the Boys Town of Italy of Western New York. In 
recognition of that extraordinary level of community service, Mr. 
Flickinger was recognized as the Buffalo News' Outstanding Citizen in 
1989, and the 1989 recipient of the University at Buffalo's 
Distinguished Citizen Award.
  On April 21, 1997, the Buffalo community lost one of its greatest 
men. A man whose dedicated and charitable community service, hard work, 
commitment to Buffalo's development, personal strength, unparalleled 
integrity, and vibrant love of life serve as an inspiration to us all.
  During a tribute in 1988, John Walsh III, CEO of Walsh Duffield Cos. 
put it best--``We see Mr. Flickinger as a humble, quiet, forceful, and 
thoroughly professional servant of his community, and we are educated 
by his kindness and compelling example of leadership.''
  Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the city of Buffalo, and 
indeed, our entire western New York community, to honor Mr. Burt P. 
Flickinger, Jr., who is survived by his wife, Mary Ewing Ryan 
Flickinger; his brother, Peter; his children, Burt III, Molly 
Flickinger Ford, and Catherine ``Bambi'' Flickinger Schweitzer; his 
stepchildren, Peter Ryan, David Ryan, and Molly Ewert; and his seven 
grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren for his dedicated service to 
our western New York community. To that end, I would like to convey to 
the Flickinger family my deepest sympathies, and ask my colleagues in 
the House of Representatives to join with me in a moment of silence.
  We will all miss Mr. Flickinger very much.

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