[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE CATHLEEN ``CATHY'' ANDERSON, HOLLYWOOD CITY 
                              COMMISSIONER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a 
trailblazer and community icon in South Florida politics, Hollywood, 
Florida City Commissioner Cathleen ``Cathy'' Anderson. Commissioner 
Anderson is celebrating her 30th year of uninterrupted service as a 
member of the City Commission, making her the longest serving member in 
the history of that body.
  The first woman to serve on the Hollywood City Commission, she was 
originally appointed in June of 1975 to fill the unexpired term of 
Thomas Wohl. A Broward County native, Anderson justifiably takes great 
pride in a family history that is intertwined with the history of our 
state--all the way back to 1896, when her great grandfather and great 
uncle traveled on the first Flagler train to Broward County. That 
pioneering spirit has since been a family tradition and a trademark of 
Anderson's career in Public Service.
  She was an early leader in the Broward County Environmental Movement 
which brought one-half of Hollywood's Barrier Island into public 
ownership. She was a founding Director of the Broward Chapter of the 
National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1979 (now the National 
Conference for Community and Justice); served for more than 20 years as 
a trustee of the Broward County Historical Commission; and served seven 
years as chairperson of the Broward County Historical Preservation 
Board. She is currently a long-time Board Member of the Broward County 
Tourist Development Council; and Honorary Board Member of the Hollywood 
Police Athletic League.
  Since early childhood, Commissioner Anderson has been an animal 
rights activist, with a deep and enduring love of animals. In 1970, she 
founded Animal Birth Control, a non-profit organization established for 
the benefit and welfare of cats and dogs. Today, the organization 
continues to successfully operate with Commissioner Anderson as 
President.
  Commissioner Anderson's innovative spirit and dedicated approach to 
public service has benefited and touched people in all walks of life 
and has resulted in her being recognized and honored by countless 
organizations, including NCCJ, American Jewish Congress, Humane Society 
of Broward County. Additionally, Commissioner Anderson was inducted in 
March of 1999 into the Broward County Women's Hall of Fame.
  A resident of Hollywood said of Commissioner Anderson in a recent 
Miami Herald article, ``No one owns Cathy; no one from old Florida, new 
Florida, no developer. Cathy is just Cathy.'' She has made and 
continues to make an indelible mark on the development of South 
Florida, and she is due a tremendous debt of gratitude for her 
foresight, courage and leadership over the past 30 years.

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