[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2200-E2201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING MICHAEL BERRY ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 27, 1999

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and congratulate a 
very close friend as he marks the close of a very significant chapter 
of his life: practice law.
  Michael Berry has served as a model of community leadership 
throughout his career as an attorney and public servant, and he is 
fully deserving of the tribute to be given this Friday in Dearborn, 
Michigan.
  Earlier this year, Michael ended the 45-year existence of his law 
firm, Berry, Francis, Seifman, Salamey and Harris. During these years, 
Michael represented a wide variety of clients, while becoming involved 
in a myriad of business, civic, legal and political organizations. His 
participation in literally scores of activities demonstrates Michael's 
long-standing commitment to making his community a better place to 
live, work and raise a family.
  Michael served as a Wayne County Public Administrator from 1956-78, 
and for 15 years as a Member and Chairman of the Board of the Wayne 
County Road Commission. Having helped build the infrastructure for one 
of the nation's largest counties, the county rightfully designated 
Detroit Metropolitan Airport's international terminal in Michael's 
name, a designation which was particularly fitting given Michael's 
family heritage as a Lebanese-American.
  Throughout my service in Congress, Michael has been a leader among 
leaders in southeast Michigan's Arab-American community. As such he has 
devoted countless hours

[[Page E2201]]

toward improving the lives of Arab-Americans across the nation, and 
building bridges of understanding between Americans of Arab descent and 
those of us with other ethnic roots. A Life Member of the NAACP, 
Michael serves today as an Executive Board Member of the American Task 
Force for Lebanon. He also has served as a Director of the Greater 
Round Table of the National Conference of Christians, Muslims and Jews. 
If one wonders whether Michael's participation and advocacy have had an 
impact, I need only point to the growing influence today of Arab-
Americans in nearly every sphere of our lives, in government, 
education, business and trade, literature and the arts, and politics.
  Mr. Speaker, as Michael's many friends prepare to gather to celebrate 
this many accomplishments on behalf of his community and country, I 
wanted to share with my colleagues just how much Michael's service and 
friendship have meant to me. As a past Chairman of the 16th District 
Democratic Party for four terms, Michael has been active in Michigan 
politics for more than 40 years. Throughout this period, Michael has 
been a true and loyal friend and someone I could trust to give me good 
advice about everything from transportation policy to the current 
politics of Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. His knowlege 
and insight have been invaluable to me in representing Michigan's 16th 
Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. I wish him 
and his fiancee, Cindy Hanes, every happiness as Michael prepares to 
turn yet another new page on a successful life.

                          ____________________