[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MR. JIM LEEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2001

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend 
and lifelong resident of my 34th Congressional District in Norwalk, 
California. Mr. Jim Leedy recently passed away and I am proud to honor 
him for his devout community service in organizations like the Knights 
of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Blind Association and the 
Rancho San Antonio Boys Home.
  Jim was born in Los Angeles in 1935 and educated in the Los Angeles 
Public Schools. He married his high school sweetheart Kathleen in 1956 
and was drafted into the Army in 1958, spending his time in Korea. 
After an honorable discharge, he and his wife bought a home in Norwalk, 
where they lived for forty wonderful and memorable years and raised two 
children, Jim and Theresa.
  Jim was a truck driver by trade, however most of his life was spent 
helping others in various capacities. He became active in the Knights 
of Columbus in 1972 and was preparing to become a 4th degree Knight 
when he passed away. Under the leadership of Jim as Community Director, 
the Norwalk Knights of Columbus won-top honors in Community Service at 
the State convention in 1977. Since then, Jim has remained very active 
and involved in many different service areas of the Knights of 
Columbus, as well as the VFW. During the last two years of his life, 
Jim served as Family Director for the Knights of Columbus under two 
different Grand Knights. Even when he was not holding a specific 
office, Jim constantly worked on programs to better the community, 
organizing and raising funds for numerous charitable organizations.
  Jim was also actively involved in St. Linus Church and gave much of 
his time to helping others. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas 
holidays, Jim would use his truck to pick up and deliver food baskets 
to the needy. He also picked up and delivered wreaths and trees for 
Christmas and palms during the Easter season for the church. In 
addition to the service organizations that Jim belonged to, he took it 
upon himself to volunteer to deliver baked goods from local markets to 
the Norwalk Senior Citizens Center, Rio Hondo Woman's Shelter, Norwalk 
Social Service Center, and woman's detention center in Norwalk. He did 
this Monday through Friday every week of the year. The people he 
delivered bread to affectionately called Jim the ``Bread Man'', and he 
could always be counted on for a great big ``bear hug'' and a smile no 
matter what task he was undertaking.
  Neighbors and friends used to say that there was nothing Jim would 
say ``no'' to when he was asked to do for others. I am grateful to have 
known Jim Leedy and experience his warmth and compassion that touched 
so many around him. I wish to express my deepest sympathies to Jim's 
wife Kathleen, his children, Jim and Theresa, grandchildren and step 
grandchild.

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