[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E523-E524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESTON, VIRGINIA AND THE 90TH 
             BIRTHDAY OF ITS FOUNDER, ROBERT E. SIMON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia and I 
rise today to commemorate the 40 anniversary of Reston, Virginia and 
the 90th birthday of its legendary founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr.
  Bob Simon grew up in New York immersed in his family's thriving real 
estate business, Hercer Corp. He attended Harvard University, and upon 
the passing of his father in 1935, took over the family business. While 
running Hercer Corp., Simon escaped the city by residing in Syosset, a 
suburb of Long Island. There he grew to value a lifestyle in which one 
could live, work, and play in the same desirable community.
  In 1961, an offer for 6,750 lush acres 18 miles west of Washington, 
DC, caught Simon's attention. He inspected the land, instantly fell in 
love, and invested in the rolling green hills of Fairfax County. Simon 
sought to create a community to embody his ideals; he envisioned a 
well-rounded, self-sufficient community that respected the dignity of 
the individual and preserved the land's natural beauty.
  He launched his development project at a time when the Commonwealth 
of Virginia still was segregated; nonetheless, Simon bravely fought for 
a community in which people of all backgrounds could live peacefully 
together. He put Dr. Martin Luther King's principles to practice and 
always will be remembered for his commitment to integration. Many 
investors turned away from Simon's concept, yet Gulf Oil accepted, 
providing critical resources and support for the project.
  After securing funding, Simon worked closely with noted planners, 
architects, and environmentalists to transform his vision into a 
reality. Perhaps most notable was his innovative notion of clustered 
housing, leaving open land and improving the appearance and quality of 
the area. Simon's development team and those that succeeded them were 
able to realize his dream community, aptly naming it Reston, using the 
founder's initials and the English suffix for town. As Reston 
developed, numerous organizations such as the United States Geological 
Survey relocated to the area, bringing much needed employment and 
residents. In 1990, development began on the Reston Town Center, which 
produced a lasting, positive impact on the community.

[[Page E524]]

  Today, over 58,000 call 11.5 square mile Reston home. Reston has 
attracted national and worldwide recognition as one of the ``best 
places to live,'' truly surpassing all expectations. Forty years ago 
Simon had a dream, and it appears as though this dream has come true. 
As Simon intended, Reston has become a thriving residential, 
commercial, industrial, cultural, and civic center where urban 
seamlessly meets rural.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, we would like to congratulate Reston on 40 
years of success and wish its residents the best of luck in the many 
years to come. We ask that our colleagues join us in applauding this 
notable accomplishment and in wishing Bob Simon a happy celebration of 
Reston's success and his 90th birthday.

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