[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 135 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            RAY SAUL HONORED

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 7, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
distinguished journalist, community leader, and close friend from my 
District in Hazleton, Pennsylvania--Ray Saul. This month, the Sons of 
Italy Lodge 1043 will honor Ray as ``Italian American of the Year.'' I 
am pleased to have been asked to participate in this event.
  A native of Hazleton, Ray is a graduate of Hazleton High School and 
Penn State, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism. He was 
the editor of his college yearbook and was cited by the All College 
Board for outstanding achievement as a student leader. A Navy veteran 
of World War II, Ray entered the service as an apprentice seaman and 
retired as a Lieutenant Commander after a combined 21 years of active 
and reserve service.
  Ray is best known to the community for his 47 years of dedicated 
journalism at the Hazleton Standard-Speaker newspaper. Ray was sports 
editor at the Standard-Speaker for twenty-seven years and managing 
editor for the last fifteen years. Since his retirement in 1997, he 
continues to write sports columns and other features for the newspaper. 
As a journalist, Ray was an active member of the Associated Press 
Sports Editors Association and the Managing Editors Association.
  In 1995, he was honored by the Department of Defense for his feature 
stories of various Hazletonians serving in World War II. Ray received 
an Associated Press Citation for a story on a local basketball team's 
success. In recognition of his writing and participation in sports, he 
was honored by several chapters of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame 
and the PIAA District 2.
  Ray Saul has always recognized the unique responsibilities inherent 
in leading a local newspaper which is truly the voice of its community. 
Under his leadership, the Standard-Speaker could be relied on for fair 
and accurate reporting of stories important to the Greater Hazleton 
area. Ray always put the interests of the community first.
  Ray's accomplishments are far reaching into the community as well. He 
is an active Kiwanian and has been awarded the International Tablet of 
Honor once and the Kiwanian of the Year twice. He has been an active 
Penn State alum, helping to raise funds for new buildings on the 
Hazleton Campus. In 1984, he was the fifth person in the then-50 year 
history of the Hazleton campus to receive the Penn Stater Award, for 
outstanding service to the university.
  Mr. Speaker, Ray is the son of the late Santo Saul and Genevieve 
DeJoseph. All four of his grandparents were Italian immigrants. From 
his distinguished Navy career his beloved journalism career, Ray is a 
true example of an American success story. Even in retirement, he and 
his wife Nell are respected, active members of the community. I applaud 
the Sons of Italy for their choice of this year's honoree and am proud 
to congratulate Ray on yet another prestigious award. I send him my 
heartiest best wishes for continued health and happiness.

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