[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 105 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1484-E1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN MEMORY OF ALAN J. GIBBS, LIFELONG PUBLIC SERVANT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 1998

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, Alan J. Gibbs, died Saturday, July 25, at 
the age of 60. Most recently, Alan served as the Director of the 
National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers, the State University of 
New Jersey.
  He was dedicated to public service, having worked for over 35 years 
at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
  I join with his family, as well as my colleagues at Rutgers and 
throughout the State of New Jersey in remembering him, and honoring his 
accomplishments and great leadership. I know Rutgers is particularly 
proud of Alan's accomplishments at the National Transit Institute. 
Established at the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus in New Jersey's Sixth 
District in 1992, the NTI was created by Congress to develop education 
and training programs for transportation professionals and transit 
agencies across the nation. The NTI has trained thousands of 
individuals from transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, 
state departments of transportation, and employees of

[[Page E1485]]

federal-aid transit systems to improve public transit in the United 
States.
  Prior to heading the NTI, Alan served as the State Commissioner of 
the Department of Human Services, to which he was appointed by Governor 
Jim Florio in 1990. Under his leadership, the largest department in the 
State government underwent a major downsizing, reallocated resources to 
focus on non-institutional care for the developmentally disabled and 
mentally ill, developed a managed care program for Medicaid recipients, 
and implemented a welfare reform program.
  Mr. Gibbs began his public service career in 1963 with the National 
Labor Relations Board. In 1968, Alan became the Equal Employment 
Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) first Area Director for Alabama and 
Tennessee. He then moved to Washington, DC to continue his work at the 
EEOC at the federal level. From 1970 to 1974, Alan served in the New 
York City Health Services Administration. In 1972, he was the first 
layperson to be appointed First Deputy Commissioner of Health.
  Then, in 1974, Governor Brendan Byrne of New Jersey appointed Mr. 
Gibbs to serve as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of 
Human Services. In that capacity, hew was responsible for all 
management, planning, and budgetary activities in support of the 
State's corrections, mental health, mental retardation, public welfare, 
Medicaid, social services, and veteran programs. In 1981, as Secretary 
of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Mr. 
Gibbs was honored by the National Governor's Association for reducing 
spending by $200 million, without eliminating or negatively affecting 
high-priority services for dependent populations.
  As President Carter's appointee to the Assistant Secretary of the 
Army, he was presented with the Distinguished Civilian Service Award 
for his contribution to our nation's defense in 1981.
  Clearly, Alan Gibbs' accomplishments were extensive. The national 
recognition he received throughout his career for his exemplary 
management of the most vital public services at all levels of 
government certainly was well deserved. I join his family, and those at 
Rutgers and elsewhere, in honoring Alan for his talent and deep 
commitment to public service. I know he will be missed.