[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1288-E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING MAYOR CHARLES ROONEY, JR., OF SEA BRIGHT, N.J.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 1999

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in my home state of New Jersey, at this 
very moment, children and their parents are starting to pack for their 
weekend at the Jersey Shore. And they are imagining the beautiful 
beaches and ocean waters that await them and all the fun and good 
memories that the coming weekend holds.
  Most of these weekend visitors take the Jersey Shore for granted, not 
realizing that there are people who devoted their lives to protecting 
and maintaining the shoreline for all to enjoy. Foremost among these 
coastal champions was Charles Rooney, the mayor of Sea Bright, N.J., 
from 1988 until his death this year. This Sunday, June 20, the people 
of Sea

[[Page E1289]]

Bright will rededicate Swing Bridge Park in Sea Bright, N.J., in his 
honor.
  The Sea Bright residents who will attend know well how hard Mayor 
Rooney worked over a 20-year period--first as a Councilman and then as 
Mayor--to get the state and federal funds to protect Sea Bright from 
the many ``Nor'easters'' that threatened the lives and property of 
residents. Over the years, these seasonal storms, with their ferocious 
winds and pounding surf, robbed Sea Bright of its protective seawall 
and buffer beaches to the point that the town might not have survived 
another storm season.
  My colleagues, you know more about Mayor Rooney and Sea Bright than 
you realize, because it was to Sea Bright that the New York and 
national television stations would go for some fearsome footage 
whenever a hurricane came up the East Coast. Each time, I would talk to 
a very concerned Mayor Rooney on the phone and later meet him on a tour 
of the damage and we would agree to press harder and speed up the 
schedule to repair the seawall and reconstruct the beaches. And, 
colleagues, it was your vote, year-after-year that helped us finally 
make the repairs that resulted in the completion of the multi-million 
dollar Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Project along much of 
the coastline of my district.
  Charles Rooney was a man who served his community like no other I 
know. His eight years as union representative in the Steel Workers 
Union helped prepare him for the leadership and coalition building 
skills he would later utilize as Councilman and Mayor. He served as 
president of the local chamber of commerce and established the senior 
citizens club, the borough recreation center and the youth program. In 
November, he was inducted into the League Municipalities ``Mayors' Hall 
of Fame'' and in January into the ``Elected Officials Hall of Fame'' 
for having served more than 20 years in local government.
  There was an amazing personal side to Charles Rooney. He had 
tremendous character and was himself a character. He used to say that 
when he took office, the town of Sea Bright was famous for having 
twenty-one liquor licenses and to reverse the common attitude of 
``let's party in Sea Bright,'' somebody had to be tough. It was that 
toughness that turned Sea Bright back into a beautiful family resort as 
it was during the glory days at the turn of the century.
  It was also his political toughness, combined with his middle-aged 
entry into long distance running that gave him the nickname of ``Iron 
Man Rooney.'' Starting at the age of 48, he ran in 17 career marathons, 
inspired by another shore legend, Dr. George Sheehan, ``The Running 
Doc'' of Rumson. Mayor Rooney ran the entire length of the New Jersey 
Atlantic Coastline, from Sandy Hook to Cape May in just over four days. 
As the sponsor of local marathons, ``he always cheered the loudest for 
the people coming in last. He'd be there for the lady running 13-minute 
miles, when no one else was there. He'd put the biggest smile on her 
face, making her feel like she'd just won the race,'' said his son, 
Charles Rooney III.
  It was appropriate that the dedication of Charles Rooney Swing Bridge 
Park is taking place on Fathers Day, because Mayor Rooney was the 
father of so many wonderful environmental improvement projects that 
enhanced the quality of life in Sea Bright for its residents and others 
to enjoy. He was also a tremendous role model, not only for his son and 
daughter, but for all of us in public service who could learn so much 
from the warm and wonderful way he served the people of Sea Bright.

                          ____________________