[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THANKING JAMES JOYCE OF CHICAGO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank outgoing Chicago Fire 
Commissioner James Joyce for his 39 years of noble service to the 
department and to wish him well in his retirement.
  Commissioner Joyce enjoyed a remarkable rise through the ranks of the 
Chicago Fire Department before being appointed to the top post by Mayor 
Richard M. Daley in 1999. During his more than four years as 
commissioner, Commissioner Joyce spearheaded important changes to the 
department, including building new firehouses, replacing and updating 
firehouse equipment, and improving coordination with suburban fire 
departments. His tenure as Commissioner was also noteworthy for the 
respect he garnered from rank and file firefighters throughout the 
department.
  His steady leadership also was apparent after the Sept. 11 attacks, 
when Commissioner Joyce committed the department to aiding disaster 
prevention efforts and oversaw changes in policies and procedures to 
protect the people of Chicago.
  Commissioner Joyce was born in 1942 and was educated at Chicago State 
University. He received his master's degree in public administration 
from Governor's State University.
  Commissioner Joyce began his career within the Chicago Fire 
Department as a firefighter assigned to Truck 4 in Chinatown in 1965. 
After serving as engineer, lieutenant and captain he was promoted to 
battalion chief in 1979. Later his administrative posts included 
District Chief and Deputy Fire Commissioner.
  The Joyce family's commitment to firefighting and to protecting the 
lives of Chicago's citizens began long before the Commissioner joined 
the force. Commissioner Joyce is a third-generation Chicago 
firefighter, whose maternal grandfather, father and brother all served. 
His grandfather gave the ultimate sacrifice, dying as a result of 
battling a 1934 blaze at the old Chicago Stockyards.
  Commissioner Joyce and his wife Janet reside in St. John Fisher 
Parish on Chicago's South Side and are the parents of four children. I 
wish Commissioner Joyce the best as he begins his well-deserved 
retirement
  Mr. Speaker, I join in all of Chicago in thanking James Joyce for his 
long record of achievement in serving our city. His dedication and 
passion will be missed.

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