[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF THE LATE LT. MARGARET O'MALLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lt. 
Margaret O'Malley, who passed away recently after battling with liver 
cancer at the age of 44. Lt. O'Malley had been in charge of security at 
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport since 1993.
  Lt. O'Malley received much accreditation for her hard work and 
innovative ideas. She was awarded several commendations from the Secret 
Service for her assistance in providing security when President Clinton 
landed at Cleveland Hopkins Airport aboard Air Force One. She 
accommodated numerous celebrities throughout her seven years of work at 
the airport, including Bette Midler and Melissa Etheridge, and also 
worked to ensure the safety of the Cleveland Indians when fans poured 
into the airport to greet the team in the wee hours of the morning 
after their pennant-clinching victory. According to Capt. Margaret A. 
Downding, who was Lt. O'Malley's domestic partner for the past 19 
years. ``Often, when celebrities arrived, she expedited their travel 
through the airport.'' Also, in order to aid her staff, the Lt. 
arranged for the donation of several bicycles so that officers could 
patrol the airport by bicycle. Although her primary concern was the 
safety of travelers in the airport, she also worked to enhance the 
experience of visitors to the city and to accommodate the local 
residents who came to the airport to greet friends and relatives.
  The Cleveland native followed in the footsteps of her father Michael, 
who is also a Cleveland police lieutenant. The elder O'Malley has the 
most seniority of any officer in the 1,850-member department. The 
younger O'Malley grew up in Cleveland and Fairview Park. She earned a 
bachelor's degree in political science from Edgecliffe College, now 
part of Xavier University. She was accepted into the police academy in 
1979, was promoted to sergeant in 1985, and promoted again to 
lieutenant in 1993.
  Lt. O'Malley also excelled when she was not in uniform. She 
coordinated women's sporting events for police officers and friends, 
including volleyball matches and softball games. Last summer, she 
organized a charitable golf outing that benefited the Susan G. Komen 
Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Her zest for life invigorated all 
those around her.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Lt. O'Malley's hard work and 
dedication to her community. The great lengths she took to ensure 
safety to all and her commitment to the people of Cleveland will be 
greatly missed.

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