[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO LOUIS WALSH, ``IRISHMAN OF THE YEAR''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Louis 
Walsh, who was honored on Friday, February 20, as ``Irishman of the 
Year'' by the Denver Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in extending congratulations to Mr. 
Walsh on his receiving this outstanding and appropriate honor.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many characteristics which we associate with 
the Irish--loyalty, perseverance, humor, trustworthiness, generosity, 
hospitality. These are especially true of Louis Walsh. He has also been 
blessed with an unmistakable Irish wit. For all intents and purposes, 
his home is your home. But Lou can also be very demanding--he expects 
the best from all of his friends and colleagues, and in doing so he has 
contributed markedly to improving the quality of their lives.
  Lou appreciates the best of everything, whether it be music, drink, 
entertainment or, most important of all, friendship and loyalty. He 
appreciates the good life all the more for having starting out in 
humble circumstances. Lou was born on March 5, 1928, in Curry, County 
Sligo, Ireland, one of ten children. Life was simple and full of hard 
work, but that did not stop Lou from riding ten miles on his bike to 
get to a dance, arriving home in time to sleep for but an hour before 
morning chores. But he had much longer journeys in his future.
  Lou attended St. Nathy's College before traveling to England to teach 
school at Rodbourne College. Soon afterwards, with the assistance of 
his brother Matt, he made the decision to cross the Atlantic and 
emigrate to America. Lou initially settled in Chicago and continued his 
education, attending Peter Shannon's School of Accounting. Mr. Shannon, 
astutely noting his numerous abilities, employed Lou after his 
completion of the course. Lou has been everlastingly grateful to Mr. 
Shannon for believing in him from the start and for assisting him in 
every possible way. Lou has tried to be similarly inspiring and helpful 
to others throughout the course of his life.
  After five years of work for Mr. Shannon and an additional two years 
of service as an Army medic during the Korean War, Lou's appreciation 
of nature and love of beauty prompted him to move to Colorado in 1961. 
He worked as an auditor for the State of Colorado for a dozen years, 
during which time he was involved in the creation of the Colorado 
lottery. Lou also started a real estate business, which proved both 
demanding and successful. Lou's philosophic foundation appeared on 
every one of his real estate signs: ``Let Right Be Done.'' This outlook 
has reflected his approach towards his customers, his neighborhood and 
his family.
  Lou's legacy is to be found in a myriad of activities, organizations 
and good deeds, most notably those within the Irish community. He was 
one of the founders of several significant Irish organizations, 
including The Emerald Athletic Club in Chicago, The Irish Fellowship 
Club of Colorado and The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, which has 
given rise to one of the most prominent St. Patrick's Day parades in 
the country. Louis love of Irish culture applies to Irish books (of 
which he has many), Irish newspapers and magazines (to which he still 
subscribes), Irish wolfhounds (of which he once had four), Morgan 
horses (of which he has two), and Irish Whiskey. He appetite for Irish 
music and entertainment has promoted him to develop and foster Irish 
concerts and special events, and he has long dreamed of the 
establishment of an Irish cultural center in Denver. His concern for 
young people inspired him to organize a summer program in Colorado for 
Irish students. Finally, Lou's strong and unabated commitment to his 
church and homeland once gave him the opportunity to host the highest 
cleric in Ireland, Cardinal O'Fiaich.
  While Lou's devotion to the Irish community is legendary, his 
greatest passion is for his family: Ann, his extraordinary wife and 
partner in work as well as in life, son Louis, Jr., who has followed 
his proud father in his interest in real estate, and innumerable other 
relatives by blood or friendship whose lives have been touched by his 
compassion and enthusiasm.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time, to paraphrase Lou, to see to it that Right 
Be Done. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing appreciation for 
a fine man and a true Irishman, Mr. Louis Walsh.

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