[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING JOSEPH H. HALLISSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2006

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay honor to and celebrate 
the storied career of Joseph H. Hallissey. His 60 years of remarkable 
leadership, in positions at the YMCA, Hallissey Travel, the Dearborn 
Public Schools, and the Henry Ford Community College, more than 
distinguish Mr. Hallissey as a truly impassioned and accomplished 
citizen.
  After serving his country as an officer in the United States Air 
Force from 1950 to 1953, Mr. Hallissey excelled in his time at the 
YMCA, as well as in his years as a travel agent during which time he 
served as President, Trustee, and General Congress Chairperson for the 
American Society of Travel Agents. Mr. Hallissey was honored as Travel 
Agent of the Year by the 30,000 member American Society of Travel 
agents, and ``Travel Person of the Year'' for his efforts in founding 
the Institute of Certified Travel Agents in Detroit.
  While Mr. Hallissey was indeed an invaluable aid to those who wished 
to escape for a short time, his work in that area was, and continues to 
be, equaled only by his ceaseless effort to better the lives of those 
around him. Through the years he has served on numerous committees 
supporting public education, the Dearborn Public Schools, and Henry 
Ford Community College, and co-chaired seven campaigns generating 
hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for these institutions. He 
has also served on the Board of Directors and fundraising campaigns for 
countless community organizations, among them: Centurions of Dearborn, 
Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, Dearborn Goodfellows, Dearborn Rotary 
Club, Fairlane Club, Henry Ford Hospital, and Inter-service Club 
Council of Dearborn.
  Mr. Hallissey and his lovely wife Veronica have been recognized for 
their longstanding support of public education by having the Dearborn 
Public Schools' Miller Element School Library Resource Center and the 
Henry Ford Community College North Hall dedicated in their honor. Mr. 
Hallissey's commitment to public education was also clearly expressed 
as he excelled during his career as Coordinator of Community Relations 
and Ventures in Partnership Coordinator for the Dearborn Public 
Schools, as well as in his career as Director of the Henry Ford 
Community College Office of Development. He also serves as chairperson 
for the Scholarship Committee of the University of Michigan Alumni Club 
of the Greater Detroit and reviews hundreds of scholarship applications 
annually.
  Admittedly, I am not the first of those who have found it fit to 
admire Mr. Hallissey's compassionate contributions. He has been honored 
by many organizations for his community volunteer efforts, receiving 
the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce ``Citizen of the Year'' Award, the 
Dearborn Rotary Distinguished Community Service Award, the Dearborn 
Inter-Service Club Council ``Member of the Year'' Award, the Henry Ford 
Community College Distinguished Service Award on two occasions in 1976 
and 1991, and the Henry Ford Community College President's award. 
Joseph Hallissey's commitment to bettering the lives of those around 
him, and endless efforts to create a vibrant, outreaching educational 
community, will not soon be forgotten. I would like to thank Joseph 
Hallissey for his ceaseless and industrious humanitarian 
accomplishments over the past 60 years, and would ask that all my 
colleagues rise to wish him the best for a long and rewarding 
retirement.

                          ____________________