[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 154 (Thursday, November 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2036-E2037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LEADERS TAKING ACTION FOR INCLUSION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2001

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join Worcester County and 
The National Conference for Community and Justice in honoring four 
individuals for their promotion of understanding and respect among all 
races, religions and cultures. John S. Hamilton, Dr. Ogretta V. McNeil, 
Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, and Albert M. Toney III, dedicated 
themselves to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America and making 
the nation a better place for all of us.
  Mr. Hamilton put into action his belief that small, culturally 
diverse businesses make the difference in the economic viability of 
their communities. He has been a strong advocate for under-served 
populations, especially minority and women owned small businesses. 
Active with Centro Las Americas and the Business Inclusion Council, and 
the Martin Luther King Business Empowerment Center, he was named 
Massachusetts Financial Services Advocate of the Year (1999) by the US 
Small Business Administration. Mr. Hamilton was the driving force 
behind obtaining funding for the establishment of the Martin Luther 
King Business Empowerment Center. He was instrumental in Bay State 
Savings Bank sponsorship of the successful grant application for the 
renovation of the Odd Fellows Hall on Main

[[Page E2037]]

Street, which will provide low income housing for families in 
Worcester. In 1995 and 1996, under Mr. Hamilton's leadership, Bay State 
Savings Bank was one of the top 5 SBA lenders to minority-owned 
businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mr. Hamilton was 
recently appointed President of Medway Cooperative Savings Bank.
  Dr. McNeil came to Worcester in 1956 to attend graduate school at 
Clark University; she never left and has made the City of Worcester her 
home. Dr. McNeil has served on the faculty of Assumption College, Anna 
Maria College, and the College of the Holy Cross. During the course of 
her 27-year career at the College of the Holy Cross, she served as 
Chairwoman of the Department of Psychology, Director of African 
American Studies, and Assistant Dean. Her election as the President of 
the New England Psychological Association symbolized her professional 
achievement. In 1998 Dr. McNeil was elected to the Worcester school 
committee where she has worked to foster equity of education for all 
students. Dr. McNeil's volunteer activities include serving as a board 
member for the Alliance for Education, the Age Center of Worcester, the 
EcoTarium, and a member of the Distribution Committee of the Health 
Foundation of Central Mass. She is also a board member of Greater 
Worcester Community Foundation, Family Services and the Worcester Art 
Museum.
  Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly, installed as the fourth Bishop of the 
Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester in December 1994, is a beloved 
leader. His efforts in Worcester resulted in the formation of the 
covenant with the New England Synod (Lutheran), the Episcopal Diocese 
of Western Massachusetts and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester 
and Springfield. He was one of the essential leaders in the aftermath 
of the loss of six Worcester fire fighters in December of 1999. He 
studied for the priesthood at Our Lady of Providence Minors Seminary, 
Warwick, RI and ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1953 after five 
years of philosophical and theological study at the Grand Seminaire in 
Saint Brieue, France. Following his ordination, Bishop Reilly served at 
SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral Parish, Providence as an associate pastor. 
He also pursued graduate studies in Business Administration at Boston 
College and Harvard University. He served 22 years as a priest in the 
Diocese of Providence. In June 1975, Pope Paul VI named him Bishop of 
the Diocese of Norwich, CT, where he served until being named the 
Bishop of Worcester. Bishop Reilly has held many posts in the National 
Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB); he currently sits on the NCCB's 
Committee on Pastoral Practices. He rendered great support and 
assistance to Haiti and to India and their people. Currently he is a 
member of the boards of trustees at The Catholic Near East Welfare 
Association, Assumption College, and Saint Vincent Hospital. He holds 
Honorary doctoral degrees from Anna Maria College, Assumption College, 
and the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester.
  Mr. Al Toney's life work is the elimination of homophobia and racism. 
As a self-identified gay African American male, he has experienced 
homophobia and racism first hand. A former Worcester Police Officer, 
Mr. Toney has served in leadership position for the Gay Officers Action 
League of New England, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Central Mass., 
and the City of Worcester Human Rights Commission. In 1997, he founded 
the Safe Homes of Central Massachusetts, an organization that provides 
mentoring programs, consulting services for alternative foster 
parenting programs, and a drop in recreation and resource center. 
Beginning as a group of concerned citizens, with Mr. Toney's leadership 
this program was recently adopted as a formal program of The Bridge of 
Central Massachusetts. As early as 1984 when he started college with a 
major in urban studies, he was concerned with creating safe, inclusive 
communities for all people. His focus was initially directed to 
enforcement through course work in Criminal Justice and service as a 
police officer (March 1987-April 1995). After the tragic death of his 
life partner, Mr. Toney's energies shifted to a new focus, homophobia. 
Mr. Toney has worked as a consultant and program director for AIDS 
Project Worcester, AIDS Action Committee (Boston), Healthy Boston 
Coalition for GLBT Youth, Massachusetts Prevention Center, 
Massachusetts Department of Education, and Massachusetts Department of 
Social Services. He served as member of the City of Worcester Human 
Rights Commission from 1997-2000. He is currently a member of the Arts 
Worcester Board of Directors. Mr. Toney, his partner, and his daughter 
are currently working on a book for children, which truly reflects all 
aspects of diversity.

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