[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2360-E2361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WALTER H. MALONEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late 
Walter H. Maloney, known to his friends as Mike. Mike represented the 
First District on the Prince George's County Council at the time of his 
death and he was a leading figure in County politics for four decades. 
He was legendary for his political independence, perseverance and his 
remarkable commitment to public service.
  Mike was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1930 and came to 
Washington, DC in 1937 when his father was recruited to work in the 
Roosevelt Administration. Mike's mother taught music at the Sidwell 
Friends School in Washington, DC where Mike also attended school. Mike 
went on to graduate from Georgetown University and its law school. He 
also received a LLM degree from the University of Michigan Law School 
before joining the U.S. Army. Mike was commissioned as a first 
lieutenant and served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in La 
Rochelle, France.
  After serving in the Army, Mike embarked upon his impressive career 
as assistant counsel to the United States Senate Subcommittee on 
Constitutional Rights chaired by Senator Sam Ervin. He then moved on to 
the National Labor Relations Board as a trial attorney in the Baltimore 
regional office, and was appointed a Federal administrative law judge 
at the NLRB in 1973. Mike worked at the NLRB until his retirement in 
1994. He also taught labor law on the adjunct faculty of the University 
of Maryland University College from 1956 to 1971.
  Mike prided himself on fighting for the little guy and his work at 
NLRB is proof of that dedication. As an administrative law judge, he 
won national acclaim from the nation's editorial pages and from 
Congresswoman Bella Abzug on the Floor of this House for his decision 
in the landmark Farrah slacks case in which he detailed the 
mistreatment of factory workers in a Texas textile shop.
  Mike and his wife, Cecelia, moved to Prince George's County in 1958. 
He quickly immersed himself in civic activism and was elected a 
delegate to the statewide Democratic convention in 1962. He also began 
forty years of involvement in County public affairs by joining efforts 
to adopt a home rule charter for the County and reform zoning 
practices.
  In 1968, Mike was elected to the Charter Board, which was created by 
the voters to draft a proposed home rule charter for Prince George's 
County. Mike chaired the five member board and is widely regarded as 
the author of the County's modern form of government.
  Mike's efforts helped bring about a sweeping reform of the County's 
government. The County Commissioner system was abolished and replaced 
by an elected County Executive and council with home rule powers. 
Prince George's County had previously been run by the Maryland General 
Assembly in Annapolis.
  Mike's reform efforts did not stop with the adoption of the new 
Charter. He led the way in the election of a bipartisan slate in 1971 
and was appointed as the first County Attorney under the new Charter.
  Mike helped guide the new County government during his time as 
Attorney General until he resigned to become a Federal administrative 
law judge. The incisive and hard-hitting nature of his legal opinions 
as Attorney General earned him the nickname ``Iron Mike.``
  Mike's demanding career at NLRB did not prevent him from being active 
in local affairs or from working extensively on local bond and zoning 
issues over the years. In 1994, following his retirement from the 
Federal Government, Mike ran a successful grassroots campaign for the 
Prince George's County Council. He was re-elected in 1998.
  As a member of the Council, Mike continued to assert his political 
independence and to use his sharp mind to challenge land use and 
spending policies, and fight for the best interests of the community. 
At the time of his death, Mike was ineligible to run for the Council 
again thanks to term limits that he helped put in place.

[[Page E2361]]

  Mike was a devout Catholic and had a deep interest in Catholic 
history. He authored a profile of 58 historic catholic churches east of 
the Mississippi titled ``Our Catholic Roots.`` He also received many 
accolades throughout his long career in public service for his 
dedication to his local community and the environment.
  Mike is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cecelia Fitzpatrick, and 
six children, Timothy F. Maloney, Eileen Maloney Flynn, Kathy Maloney 
Gawne, Patrick J. Maloney, John M. Maloney, and Ann Marie Maloney, and 
twelve grandchildren. One of his greatest prides was his loving family 
and all of their many achievements. Mike was known to boast about them 
all and was happiest when surrounded by his many children and 
grandchildren.
  Mike Maloney will be sorely missed not only by those who knew him but 
also by the residents of Prince George's County whom certainly 
benefited from his dedication to his community and to the ``little 
guy.'' I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this dedicated public 
servant who leaves behind a loving family and many admirers who will 
miss him greatly.

                          ____________________