[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 54 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN DAVITT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 8, 2006

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Davitt who 
is retiring as Superintendent-President of Glendale Community College 
after 38 years of exemplary service.
  Dr. Davitt has been president of Glendale Community College since 
1985 and is the longest-tenured head of a community college in 
California. He is credited with overseeing a tripling of enrollment, 
bringing the current student population to about 22,000. There are 
literally tens of thousands of former Glendale College students who 
live not only in the Glendale community, but throughout Southern 
California, who have attended the college--taking a class to enrich 
their lives, or several general education classes in order to transfer 
to a four-year university.
  Dr. Davitt has always included everyone in the campus community, from 
students and faculty to administrators and staff, when faced with the 
decision-making process that affected the students. Dr. Davitt acted 
each day to bolster opportunities for the students. He was instrumental 
in obtaining funding for the new state-of-the-art science center and 
planetarium--a facility no other community college in the nation 
boasts. Through his devoted focus on quality academics, Dr. Davitt has 
propelled Glendale to the forefront of the community colleges.
  In 1968, Dr. Davitt introduced his unique and open management style 
to our community by taking the position of Administrative Dean of 
Personnel Services at Glendale Community College. In 1983, he was named 
Vice President of Instructional Services. Subsequently, in 1985 he 
became the college's Superintendent-President, transforming the campus 
into an innovative and productive center for learning. Dr. Davitt has 
devoted 38 years of dedicated service to the Glendale community. He is 
a remarkable man who is respected not only by the college's faculty, 
but by the student body as well. Dr. Davitt has managed to instill 
strong values of academics and workmanship while serving Glendale 
Community College, and these ideals are still gratified today.
  The Glendale community is indebted to Dr. Davitt for his countless 
achievements. I want to again congratulate John Davitt on a truly 
exemplary professional and public service career, and for his immense 
commitment to Glendale Community College and the students it serves.

                          ____________________