[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 50 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF HAROLD SNYDER
______
HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 29, 2002
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to
Harold Snyder who will be celebrating his 80th birthday on April 25,
2002. Mr. Snyder has been a successful business man, a philanthropist,
and a visionary.
Harold Snyder was born and raised in New York City. The son of
immigrants, he grew up in desperate poverty, often going without
adequate food or shelter. With determination and hard work, he helped
raise his younger sister and in 1939 graduated from Erasmus Hall High
School in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating, he served his country
bravely and proudly in the Air Force from 1941 to 1945. He was able to
use the benefits he received from his service to attend New York
University, where he graduated in 1948. He then received his Master's
degree from Columbia University in 1950.
With his wife Beatrice, Mr. Snyder began a personal and professional
partnership that would last 50 years. In 1964, Harold and Beatrice co-
founded Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Under Mr. Snyder's leadership,
Biocraft became one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs in
the United States. During the three decades of his tenure as President
and Chief Executive Officer, Biocraft also became the first generic
drug company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1996 Biocraft was acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.,
the largest pharmaceutical company in Israel. Mr. Snyder now serves on
the Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. Executive Committee and Board
of Directors.
Along with his many professional accomplishments, Mr. Snyder was at
the forefront of the effort to pass legislation to encourage the use of
generic drugs, giving millions of people access to safe and effective
low cost drugs. Mr. Snyder is one of the founders of the Pharmaceutical
Industry Association and has lectured extensively on pharmaceutical
manufacturing at various colleges and universities.
Mr. Snyder enjoyed 50 years with his beloved wife Beatrice, before
she passed away in 1998. With their three children, Beryl, Jay and
Brian, he formed the Beatrice Snyder Foundation which has championed a
number of philanthropic causes, including the Lincoln Center of
Performing Arts, the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center and the New York
Hospital Medical Center of Queens. The generosity of the Snyder family
has also touched the lives of those most greatly affected by the
terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, with their generous
support of the September 11 Fund. Most recently, Mr. Snyder sponsored a
scholarship to send an inner city high school student to Antarctica to
work with scientists. By providing this exceptional opportunity, he
hopes to inspire a talented young person to achieve.
Mr. Speaker, for his many contributions, I ask that my colleagues
join me in saluting Mr. Harold Snyder.
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