[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E513-E514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING RICHARD F. FURIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2004

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard F. Furia, 
the 2004 Man of the Year of the Ivy Ridge Lodge 251, Grand Lodge of 
Pennsylvania, of the Order of Sons of Italy in America, for his 
dedication to the people of the greater Philadelphia area and for his 
work in the Italian-American community.
   A resident of Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Rick Furia 
has practiced as an attorney in Southeastern Pennsylvania since 1971. 
He succeeded his father, the late U.S. Magistrate Edward W. Furia, Sr., 
into the profession and has served as a leader in many professional, 
fraternal and community organizations. Currently, he serves on the 
Philadelphia Bar Association's Board of Governors, Executive Board of 
Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP) and is Co-Chair of their Solo 
and Small Firm Committee. Rick is also a member of the Philadelphia Bar 
Foundation's Hamilton Circle, the charitable wing of the Association. 
He is an active member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and American 
Trial Lawyers Associations and the American Bar Association. He is also 
a member of several other local organizations and institutions, 
including the Executive Board of the Lawyers Club of Philadelphia, the 
Pennsylvania Defense Institute, Russell Conwell Society of Temple 
University School of Law, the Amici Society--Center for Italian Studies 
of the University of Pennsylvania and the Opera Company of 
Philadelphia's Bravi Circle Advisory Board.

[[Page E514]]

   As a proud member of the Italian-American community, Mr. Furia has 
served on many committees and organizations to which he has so 
tirelessly volunteered time and support. He has not only played an 
active part in the rejuvenation of Ivy Ridge Lodge 251, but he has held 
national and state offices within the Order of Sons of Italy in 
America, including President of the Pennsylvania Commission for Social 
Justice (CSJ), the anti-defamation arm of the OSIA. The CSJ was founded 
to fight the stereotyping of Italian-Americans by the entertainment, 
advertising, and news industries. Rick is past Chancellor of the 
Justinian Society of Italian-American Lawyers and has served as a board 
member since 1984; and as board member of the Justinian Foundation 
since 1996. Additionally, with the Order of Sons of Italy in America, 
Rick served as National Orator, Chairman of the By-Law Committee, 
National Secretary for the Commission for Social Justice, and Ivy Ridge 
Orator for more than a decade. He is also a member of the National-
Italian American Foundation, Counsel of 1000.
   Richard Furia is an active member of the community in supporting the 
arts, education and culture. He is an active member of The Pennsylvania 
Society, Barnes Society of the Barnes Foundation, Free Library of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Museum 
of Art, and the Union League. He was honored with the Millay Club 
Alumni Achiever Award from the Southeast Catholic/Bishop Neumann/Saint 
John Neumann High School Alumni Association in 2000.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Richard F. Furia for all his years of exemplary service to the Order of 
Sons of Italy in America, his community and the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania.

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