[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 107 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1531-E1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY CELEBREZZE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 18, 2003

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the 
life of Anthony ``Tony'' Celebrezze, Jr., a widely respected long-time 
civil servant and Ohio political leader who unexpectedly passed away on 
the Fourth of July.
  Anthony Celebrezze, Jr. was the oldest of three children and only son 
of five-term Cleveland Mayor Anthony J. Celebrezze, Sr.
  Tony graduated in 1963 from the U.S. Naval Academy. He served 5 years 
on active duty and earned the Navy Commendation Medal. For many years 
thereafter, he served as a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
  He went on to earn a master's degree in 1966 from George Washington 
University and a law degree in 1973 from Cleveland State University.
  Tony Celebrezze was first elected as a state senator in 1974 to 
represent Cleveland. He became Secretary of State in 1978, Ohio 
Attorney General in 1983 and ran for governor against George Voinovich 
in 1990.
  After leaving elected office, he worked as a lawyer and remained 
active in Ohio politics.
  As Ohio's Attorney General, Celebrezze negotiated a landmark court 
judgment against the U.S. Energy Department, giving the state the right 
to regulate nuclear and chemical waste at the Feeds Materials 
Production Center in Fernald, near Cincinnati.
  Tony also brought the first criminal prosecutions under Ohio's 
hazardous-waste laws, expanded consumer protection and helped bring the 
DARE program to Ohio.
  My first close personal experiences with Tony date from this period. 
As the chairman of the Ohio State Senate Committee on Health, Human 
Services and the Aging, I worked with Tony to investigate an out-of-
state firm that was involved in questionable business activities with 
some of our state agencies. Tony did not see this as a partisan issue, 
and was a solid partner is seeing that those who were violating the law 
were held accountable.
  Tony was always driven by a desire to do the right thing. As Ohio's 
chief law enforcement officer, he took his position seriously and 
carried out his duties in a professional, fair and non-partisan 
fashion. He was a true gentleman and Ohio is a better place because of 
his years of service.
  Tony and I also shared a common bond in our long association with 
Rotary International. He was an active member of the board of directors 
of the Rotary Club of Columbus, and I always appreciated the 
opportunity to visit that club since I was almost guaranteed to run 
into Tony.
  In addition to Rotary, Tony had a lifelong love of cars and auto 
racing. He participated in the Legends racing league where cars are 
five-eighths scale, fiberglass replicas of 1930s and 1940s NASCAR cars. 
Celebrezze's car was No. 63, marking the year he graduated from the 
U.S. Naval Academy.
  Unfortunately, Tony went before his time, but in the years that he 
had he made a difference in the lives of thousands of people. I was 
always proud to be able to call him a

[[Page E1532]]

friend, and I honor his many contributions to the people of the State 
of Ohio.

                          ____________________