[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  JIM PAISLEY HONORED AS 2002 OUTSTANDING ITALIAN-AMERICAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the long record of service to his fellow 
citizens of James Paisley, former mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, who 
will be honored as ``Outstanding, Italian-American of the Year'' at the 
October 13, 2002, banquet of the Sons of Italy Lodge 1043, members of 
the Columbus Club and UNICO.
  Jim was born July 1, 1928, to John and Frances LaRocco Paisley. He is 
a lifelong resident of Hazleton, was educated in the public school 
systems and graduated with the class of 1946. Following his graduation, 
he worked as an apprentice mechanic for the Hazleton Ford dealership.
  He entered the Army in November 1950 as a private with the 43rd 
Infantry Division and was discharged with the rank of sergeant first 
class on November 1, 1952. The 43rd Infantry served in Germany, with 
its primary function to patrol the border with the Communist nations in 
Europe during, the Cold War.
  After returning to the United States, he met and married the former 
Irene Bonomo in 1953. They are the parents of a daughter, Francine, 
owner and operator of Francine's Beauty Shop, Hazleton; a son, the Very 
Rev. James J. Paisley, pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church, Laflin; and 
a daughter, Carmela, a clinical instructor at the School of Radiology, 
Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Church Street Campus.
  In 1954, Jim was appointed patrolman with the Hazleton Police 
Department. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1964, and then promoted to 
captain of detectives in 1969. He retained the position as captain 
until retirement in 1974. After retirement from the Police Department, 
he worked as a drapery installer for Bonomo Decorators from 1974 to 
1978.
  In 1978, he was elected mayor of Hazleton and served two four-year 
terms. He was appointed to the position of field investigator with the 
Pennsylvania Treasury Department, where he was responsible for the 
investigation of fraud cases in 12 counties through August 1989.
  After passing the required state civil service examination in 1989, 
he was employed by the Hazleton Housing Authority as a project manager, 
and was promoted to administrative officer and grant coordinator in 
1995 after successfully managing the Vine West Family Community. He was 
also named contacting officer for the authority. After 11 years of 
outstanding, exemplary and faithful execution of his duties, he was 
appointed in 1999 as executive director of the authority, in which 
capacity he continues to serve.
  Jim is a member of the Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church, 
where he serves as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and as a 
lector. He has also served two terms as president of the Hazleton UNICO 
club.
  Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, I am pleased to call to the 
attention of the House of Representatives the well-deserved honor being 
accorded to James Paisley, and I wish him all the best.

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