[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1000-E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 1997

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is most appropriate that on the 
eve of his retirement that I rise in tribute to the chairman and chief 
executive officer of General Public Utilities, In., Mr. James R. Leva.
  Jim Leva is a true American success story and how he achieved that 
success defines what it is to be a good civic and corporate citizen--
hard work, determination, commitment to community, excellence in all 
efforts, and loyalty and love for family.
  A 1950 graduate of Boonton High School and a veteran of the U.S. 
Marine Corps, Mr. Leva joined Jersey Central in 1952 as a utility 
worker and progressed to first-class lineman in 1954. He worked for 4 
years as night troubleman while attending Fairleigh Dickinson 
University as a full-time day student in electrical engineering. At the 
same time, he was beginning his life with his wife, Marie Marinaro of 
Morristown, and raising their five children.
  Mr. Leva graduated from the university magna cum laude with a 
bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1960. The same 
year he advanced to cadet engineer in the utility's central division 
engineering department and was promoted to assistant engineer the 
following year. His rise continued--from personnel assistant in 1962, 
assistant manager-employee relations in 1963, manager-employee 
relations in 1968, vice president personnel, safety and services in 
1969 and vice president consumer affairs in 1979.
  In 1980, Mr. Leva obtained his juris doctorate from Seton Hall Law 
School and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar the same year.
  In January 1992, he was elected president and chief executive officer 
of General Public Utilities Corp., the forerunner of GPU, Inc., and 
assumed the additional position of chairman in June 1992. He is also 
chairman of GPU Nuclear, Inc., and chairman and chief executive officer 
of all other major GPU companies.
  And, while all this hard work was accomplished, Jim Leva never forgot 
his commitment to the county and State in which he lived. Mr. Leva has 
been active in local public affairs for many years. He served as a 
member of the Morris Township Board of Education, the Morris Township 
Committee, and was the township's police commissioner. He also served 
two terms as mayor of Morris Township.
  Jim Leva has had an even broader sense of community than the county 
in which he lives. Among his other contributions, Mr. Leva is a 
director of the Utilities Mutual Insurance Co., New Jersey Utilities 
Association, Edison Electric Institute, and New Jersey State Chamber of 
Commerce. He was national chairman of the 1996 U.S. Savings Bond 
campaign, chairman of the board of trustees of St. Clares-Riverside 
Foundation, and chairman of the joint advisory board of the Edward J. 
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University. 
He is also a member of the board of trustees of Fairliegh Dickinson 
University and the TriCounty Scholarship Fund and a member of the board 
of directors of Prosperity New Jersey, Inc.
  Mr. Speaker, this Friday, May 23, many people will gather to pay 
tribute to Jim Leva for his many achievements and leadership of GPU as 
well as his countless contributions to a better New Jersey. They will 
come from all walks of life--from the lineman to the government 
official, from business leaders to community volunteers to say thank 
you. We say thank you Jim for a job well done and thank you for serving 
as an example to us all. We are most grateful for your service and we 
wish you and your family many happy and well deserved years of 
retirement.

[[Page E1001]]



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