[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1718-E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE UNITED WAY'S CONGRESSWOMAN MARY T. NORTON MEMORIAL 
                             AWARD WINNERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 1998

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sister Alice 
McCoy, Margaret Murtha and Maria Nolan for winning the United Way's 
Congresswoman Mary T. Norton Memorial Award.
  The award, which was initiated by the United Way of Hudson County in 
1990, recognizes those who exhibit a deep commitment to

[[Page E1719]]

human service as exemplified by Congresswoman Norton in her 13 terms in 
the House of Representatives (1925-1950). The Congresswoman was a 
forward-thinker who advocated for government action to help address 
issues we are still grappling with today, such as day care, fair 
employment practices, health care for veterans and the inclusion of 
women in high levels of government service.
  Sister Alice McCoy, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, has 
served Hudson County as an educator, counselor and advocate for the 
needy for twenty-five years. She has been a teacher at the primary, 
secondary and collegiate levels. In 1980, as a Pastoral Associate at 
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jersey City, she helped establish an 
emergency food and clothing program to aid needy families. Sister McCoy 
helped found Hudson Hospice, a program which helps the terminally ill 
and their families by providing emotional support, financial aid, 
bereavement support, information and referral assistance. In 1994, she 
became co-producer and host of a cable television program called 
``Oasis.'' The program features people from all walks of life and is 
designed to help inspire others to serve the community.
  Margaret Murtha has spent her life advocating for a better quality of 
life for the mentally ill, HIV/AIDS patients and needy children. 
Currently, she is the Director of the Hudson County Division of 
Catholic Community Services (CCS), the social services agency of the 
Archdiocese of Newark. In this capacity she administers the CCS's 
homeless shelter system, juvenile crisis intervention, and the Mentally 
III Chemical Abuser (MICA) and HIV Outreach programs. Margaret 
graduated from Caldwell College and received her masters degree in 
social work from Fordham University. She holds many certifications and 
professional memberships in the areas of marriage and family therapy, 
alcoholism counseling, social work and elementary education.
  For the past 23 years, Maria Nolan has been one of the nation's best 
high school volleyball coaches for Secaucus High School, compiling an 
outstanding record of 420-68 and capturing 12 state championships. In 
fact, she was recently chosen as Disney's National Coach of the Year. 
She was chosen out of a field of 15,000 coaches in all sports. Maria 
has developed successful teams by helping her players build their self-
confidence, work as a team and develop strong character. In 1983, Maria 
founded and became President of the Hudson County Volleyball Coaches 
Association. She is married to Tom Nolan and is the mother of two 
children, Joe and Andrea.
  These three deserving recipients embody the life work of 
Congresswoman Mary T. Norton. They have dedicated their lives to the 
needy, the mentally ill, the terminally ill and to the education of 
children. On behalf of my colleagues in the House of Representatives, I 
congratulate Sister Alice McCoy, Margaret Murtha and Maria Nolan for 
their outstanding service to the community and for carrying on the work 
of Congresswoman Mary T. Norton.

                          ____________________