[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S3726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OUTSTANDING RHODE ISLANDER

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Rhode Islander, Jimmy McDonnell, who is celebrating his 
retirement from the Biltmore Hotel after 45 years of dedicated service.
  Since his earnest beginnings in 1948 as a busboy in the Town Room 
Restaurant, Jimmy McDonnell has exemplified great professionalism, 
boundless enthusiasm, and is today an institution in Rhode Island's 
hospitality industry. Jimmy McDonnell is synonymous with the Biltmore 
Hotel, located in the heart of the capital city of Providence.
  As a waiter, manager, and director of catering service at the 
Biltmore Hotel for over five decades, he has become a hallmark of one 
of Rhode Island's finest institutions. Over his long and industrious 
career Jimmy McDonnell has attended to the needs of people from all 
walks of life--from Presidents and foreign heads of state, to CEOs and 
politicians, to television and movie celebrities and even to rock 
stars. Jimmy has been in the center of the Rhode Island restaurant and 
hotel industry and is well known to our community's most distinguished 
residents and visitors. Synonymous with the finest in service, Jimmy 
has, through his professionalism, skills and graciousness, always put 
Rhode Island's best foot forward and illuminated the kindness and 
generosity of our great State.
  In addition to celebrities, he has touched the lives of virtually 
hundreds of Rhode Islanders and their families. He oversaw countless 
social events and charitable endeavors and he was ``the person'' to 
whom you entrusted the details of your son's bar mitzvah or who made 
sure your daughter's wedding went according to plan. He helped make 
cherished memories for so many, and his good heart and hard work 
footnoted many special events in our State and in our lives. His 
exemplary legacy of service leaves many Rhode Islanders with fond 
memories and stories of the man they knew as ``Mr. Biltmore.'' His 
presence at the Biltmore will indeed be sorely missed.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Jimmy McDonnell for his 
many years of service at the Biltmore Hotel, and to the hospitality 
industry which makes Rhode Island such a special place to live, work, 
and visit.

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