[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM ``B.J.'' HANNON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TED STRICKLAND

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 1997

  Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William 
``B.J.'' Hannon. Born September 18, 1927, in Ironton, OH, B.J. has 
shown throughout his life that one man, by dedicating himself to his 
work and his community, can make a real and lasting difference in 
people's lives.
  After has graduation from Ironton High School, B.J. proudly served 
his country in the U.S. Navy from June 1945 to August 1946. After this 
period of service, B.J. returned home to Ironton and began working at 
the Wilson Sporting Goods Co., where he was employed for 36 years.
  Through his love of sports, B.J. gave every member of the Ironton 
community the opportunity to become a star athlete. Both children and 
adults alike have benefited from B.J.'s knowledge of sports and 
devotion to his hometown. A coach since 1960, B.J. has coached almost 
every sport conceivable including football, basketball, baseball, 
softball, and track.
  He still coaches youth football, bringing countless hours of fun and 
hard work to the youth of Ironton.
  The impact that a positive role model can have on children is 
immeasurable, and B.J. has not taken his responsibility lightly. One 
can only imagine how many little league kids might have been inspired 
to work a little harder after realizing that what they accomplish on 
the field can be duplicated in others aspects of their lives. Maybe 
some of the players on his high school girls' basketball team were 
inspired to take their game to the next level, college. And the hours 
of fun and relaxation that playing for his women's softball team or 
men's basketball team provides have let the adults in Ironton have as 
much fun as their children. For these reasons, in 1987 B.J. was an 
Ironton Sports Day honoree.
  B.J. has also taken this responsibility to the civic level. He is a 
member of the Ironton City School Board, the city recreation board, and 
the Ironton Little League board of directors. These positions have 
allowed him the opportunity to provide his insight on issues affecting 
the entire community, and have established him as a greatly respected 
figure in the Ironton area. The best part is that B.J. doesn't think of 
these positions as jobs, but as a way to improve the quality of life in 
Ironton.

  At the end of this month, B.J. will be retiring from Cabletron--a 
company he helped build over the past 10 years. He began with the 
company on day one when Cabletron first set up operations in Ironton 
with just 25 employees. And he has left his mark. I recently attended 
the dedication of Cabletron's new state-of-the-art manufacturing 
facility in Ironton which now employs over 550 employees. There is no 
historical document stating when the last industrial facility was built 
in the city of Ironton. But we know it has been a long time. The 
construction of this new facility shows that Cabletron sees its future 
in southern Ohio. There is no doubt that Cabletron's presence and 
growth in Ohio are the result of the skills and commitment of our work 
force. There truly has been an outstanding group of men and women who 
have contributed to the growth of Cabletron. And B.J. has been at the 
center of it all. As human resources director, B.J. put together and 
led this world-class work force.
  During the dedication of Cabletron's new facility, every time B.J.'s 
name was mentioned the workers erupted with applause. The feeling seems 
mutual. B.J. excels in his ability to work with people. He treats 
everyone as an individual, and respects them and their opinions.
  One of my favorite stories about B.J. involves an incident on a hot 
summer day when the air conditioning went out at the plant. B.J. showed 
up with boxes of popsicles for the 120 employees who were working at 
the plant at that time, and invited them all to take a break and share 
a popsicle with him. No matter what the situation, you can always count 
on B.J. to look out for those he works with.
  B.J.'s noteworthy professional and public life has paralleled an 
equally happy home life. Married since 1952, B.J. and his wife Lavena 
have a son, Jeffrey, and three grandchildren. In his leisure hours, 
B.J. enjoys getting in some rounds of golf, and not surprisingly, 
enjoys watching his grandchildren participate in sports.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to honor a man who, simply by 
going about his work and being dedicated to his hometown, has given so 
much to the Ironton community. People of all ages, athletes, 
spectators, and fellow employees have had their lives touched by Mr. 
Hannon, whether they knew him or not. People like Mr. Hannon are what 
make smalltown America a great place to live. I hope my colleagues will 
join me in congratulating Mr. Hannon on his retirement and thanking him 
for his years of dedication to his community.

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