[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MR. THOMAS HOBART

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a proud son of 
Buffalo and Empire State, Mr. Thomas Hobart on his recent retirement as 
President of the New York State United Teachers. Mr. Hobart skillfully 
served in that capacity for the past 33 years.
  Tom Hobart is a graduate of Buffalo State College and in 1959 he 
began his career teaching Industrial Arts in the Buffalo Public 
Schools. At that time the furthest thing on his mind was union 
activity, but by struggling to get by on a starting teaching salary he 
easily recognized that teachers needed to join together to get 
collective bargaining rights. In 1964 Tom became his Building 
representative to the Buffalo Teachers Federation, in 1969 he became 
BTF President, and in 1971 he was elected President of the New York 
State Teachers Association.
  Tom realized that the presidency enabled him to be an advocate not 
only for teachers but also for public school students and for children 
in general. He realized that greater numbers provided greater 
influence, and the best way to achieve that influence was to merge the 
two State Teacher unions. Tom immediately began pressing for the merger 
and worked with New York City's legendary Albert Shanker to create 
NYSUT. In March of 1973 Tom was elected the first President of a 
200,000 member statewide union. Today because of his leadership, the 
New York Teachers Federation boasts a membership of over one half 
million members and it is regarded as one of the most respected, 
influential and effective labor organizations in the nation.
  On Thursday, May 12, 2005, President Hobart will be recognized for 
his outstanding service to New York States Teachers at a reception 
honoring him upon retirement. I would like to extend my sincere 
congratulations to Tom and his wife Dorothy, and wish them many happy 
years together in retirement.

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