[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E226-E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING MONSIGNOR LEONARD TOOMEY ON THE OCCASION OF BEING NAMED GRAND 
            MARSHAL OF THE TRENTON ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Monsignor 
Leonard Toomey, who has been named the Grand Marshal of this year's 
City of Trenton's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Just a few days after he 
leads the annual parade through historic Trenton, Msg. Toomey will 
celebrate the 54th anniversary of his ordination as a priest, which 
occurred on March 13, 1948.
  Technically, Monsignor Toomey is ``retired.'' Yet he is more active 
in his community than people half his age. He serves as an assistant 
pastor at several Diocesan Parishes, and devotes many of his homilies 
to the children he loves so much.
  Perhaps best known for his 26 years as pastor of Sacred Heart Church 
on South Broad Street, Trenton--the oldest Catholic Parish in the state 
of New Jersey--Monsignor Toomey was a pillar of the community during 
one of the city's most turbulent time periods of the late 1960s.
  While at Sacred Heart, he worked to make sure the Church's external 
image was restored and preserved to match its lofty lineage and legacy 
of service. In the mid-1970s, he launched a successful campaign to 
restore all of the parish's buildings and grounds.
  His service to the Church, to the city of Trenton, and surrounding 
areas has been so effective on many fronts. In addition to serving as 
pastor at several churches, Monsignor Toomey founded the Children's 
Youth Organization Day Camp so area children had a safe and fun place 
to go during the summer.
  He also brought God's guidance to the brave men and women of the 
Trenton Fire Department, as well as to the inmates at New Jersey's 
State Prison in Trenton, a maximum security facility where those 
convicted of the state's worst crimes are housed.
  Monsignor Toomey has held numerous posts throughout the Diocese and 
has given his time to several local boards including those for public 
housing projects, museums and historical societies, and St. Francis 
Hospital.
  I always enjoy marching in Trenton's St. Patrick's Day Parade, and 
this year's experience will be equally meaningful for I will be 
marching behind a man who truly has been a bedrock of the city of 
Trenton for the better part of a century.
  I join Monsignor's many admirers, friends, proteges and parishioners 
in thanking and congratulating him on another well-deserved recognition 
and milestone for his leadership and contributions to our community.


[[Page E227]]



              Celebrating 100 Years of Jarrett Stationary


       Statement of the Honorable Howard Coble, February 27, 2002

       Mr. Speaker, On Friday, March 1, 2002, one of the most 
     respected family-owned businesses in High Point, North 
     Carolina, will celebrate its 100th birthday. On behalf of the 
     citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we wish to 
     congratulate Jarrett Stationary on its first century of 
     existence.
       ``We don't know the exact date when Gene Jarrett started 
     the business, but is was in February 1902,'' David Wall, the 
     store's president told the High Point Enterprise. Wall, a 
     third-generation owner and a High Point City Councilman, told 
     the newspaper, ``I figured holding the celebration on March 1 
     would help us cover the date properly. Ever since we got to 
     95 years, it seems like it's taken forever to get to 100 
     years, so I'm both proud and relieved that this time has 
     finally come.''
       Because small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, 
     Mr. Wall, all of us are proud that Jarrett Stationary has 
     succeeded for 100 years. Jarrett Stationary is the 16th 
     oldest business entity in High Point according to the local 
     Chamber of Commerce. Jarrett Stationary has had a rich and 
     colorful history during its century in business.
       There have only been three presidents during its 100-year 
     existence. Gene Jarrett ran the company for approximately 45 
     years. Thurman Wall, Jarrett's son-in-law, served as 
     president before his son, David assumed the role in 1981. The 
     company also served as a bookstore during its first 40 years 
     before concentrating on office supplies after World War II.
       It has been at its downtown North Wrenn Street location 
     since 1929. Despite the glut of national office supply 
     chains, and that many other small businesses have abandoned 
     the downtown retail core, Jarrett Stationary has stayed and 
     thrived. The future looks equally bright for Jarrett 
     Stationary.
       In fact, the very name of the company has come up for 
     discussion in the past. Though a Wall family member has run 
     the business longer than a Jarrett, David Wall said there was 
     never any real consideration to abandon the company name. 
     ``Both my father and I thought about all those years that the 
     good name of Jarrett Stationary has been built up in this 
     city,'' Wall told the High Point Enterprise. ``In retail 
     especially, if you have that, that's like money in the bank, 
     so why change?''
       We concur that Jarrett Stationary should not change. It 
     should continue to serve the people of High Point the same 
     way it has for 100 years. On behalf of the citizens of the 
     Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Jarrett 
     Stationary on its centennial celebration, and we offer our 
     best wishes for the future.

     

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