[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING SAM RAMPELLO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Sam Rampello, a 
tireless advocate for Hillsborough County, Florida's public schools. 
Sam's passing this weekend silences a passionate voice for our young 
people.
  A Tampa native and graduate of Jesuit High School and the University 
of Tampa, Sam spent his career working to improve our local schools. He 
started by teaching history at Plant High School, and then went on to 
serve as a history professor at the University of Tampa. But it wasn't 
long before he came back to the public school system, working as dean 
of boys at Leto High School, then as assistant principal at Jefferson 
High School.
  In 1972, Sam worked as director of Hillsborough Community College's 
temporary airport campus and a year later joined the Hillsborough 
County planning commission. In 1976, Gov. Reubin Askew appointed Sam to 
the Hillsborough County School board, where he served for nearly 18 
years.
  Humble by nature, Sam's focus was always on the best interests of his 
students and his persistent goal was to help make our schools the best 
they can be. His steadfast faith allowed Sam to see the potential in 
everyone--particularly our students and those who help them succeed.
  Last year, in honor of all his work, a school was named in Sam's 
honor. When the Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School open's next 
year, it will serve as a living testament to Sam's dedication to 
Hillsborough County Schools.
  On behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I would like to thank 
Sam for all of his good deeds and extend my deepest sympathies to his 
family.

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