[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1212]]
                FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT GOT HIM STARTED

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 1998

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the success of local events is directly the 
result of the commitment of individuals who want to make sure that the 
events do succeed. The people of Bay City have been most fortunate to 
see the success of the annual Bay City Fireworks Festival, and this 
success is due in large part to the outstanding support the Festival 
has received from Thomas LaPorte.
  In 1995, learning that the Bay City Fireworks Festival was in a grave 
financial condition and that the event might not go forward, Tom 
LaPorte came forward with more than $70,000 to insure that the event 
would take place in 1996. This was a wonderful act, but it was 
something the people of Bay City had come to expect from Tom. He has 
given money to accident victims, loan money to other small business 
facing difficult times, and providing emergency transport to stranded 
or hardship cases in his corporate plane. And throughout these efforts, 
he has also had the strong support of his wife Mary, and his sons, Jon 
and Patrick.
  Tom LaPorte and his brother Larry ran their family shoe store for 
over twenty-five years in downtown Bay City. He started Mortgage 
America almost fifteen years ago in a small room in his home, and has 
now grown that operation to two buildings with 180 employees. They have 
been a major source of support and a force for growth of a significant 
number of local efforts, including the Logan Gaza Fund, the Bay Arts 
Council, the Bay City Clock Tower Committee, the Try City Cyclist Club, 
the Downtown Management Board, the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the 
Kent Huber Scholarship Fund, Created for Caring, the Bay County Women's 
Center, and many, many more.
  The Bay City Fireworks Festival has been restored to its former 
greatness by the continuing support from Tom LaPorte, including over 
$200,000 in cash in and inkind gifts over the past three years, plus 
promotion of other fund raisers for the event.
  People may wonder why an individual does so much. When he was asked 
about it one day, Tom LaPorte said ``I want to give back to the City I 
love and the community that got me started.'' Mr. Speaker, that is an 
attitude that deserves to be applauded and emulated as often as 
possible. I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in thanking 
and congratulating Tom LaPorte for his community spirit, his kind 
generosity and his enlightened leadership.

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