[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1346]]
                      TRIBUTE TO FREDERICK MURPHY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rcognize 36 years of 
unstinting public service by Syracuse Housing Authority Director 
Frederick Murphy. I have known Fred for many years and I speak for many 
when I say he is one public servant who will be truly missed when he 
retires this week.
  During his tenure, the Syracuse Housing Authority has become a 
national leader in developing tenant organizations and encouraging 
resident involvement. When Mayor Lee Alexander asked Fred to take this 
job in 1970, the authority was facing a number of serious problems. 
Working with HUD, Fred was able to reorganize the housing authority 
into the high performer it is today. In only a short time, the housing 
authority had achieved full occupancy and satisfied the residents.
  Today Syracuse administers 2,500 public housing apartments, 1,300 for 
the elderly and 1,200 for families. Syracuse also manages more than 
3,200 Section 8 vouchers, which bring more than $15 million each year 
to the annual economy.
  During his tenure, SHA has added 325 units of housing for elderly and 
people with disabilities, along with another 225 units of family 
housing. The success of its Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program--500 
enrolled households and $1 million in escrow--led to its selection by 
HUD as a prototype home ownership program.
  Since 1972, Syracuse has also put $180 million in capital funds to 
work modernizing aspects of every one of the city's public housing 
developments. Another example of Fred's leadership was the SHA decision 
to convert two schools to housing for the elderly, addressing an issue 
facing communities across the Nation.
  Fred did not confine his leadership to Syracuse. He has been a strong 
national voice for public housing, serving on the board of the Council 
of Large Public Housing Authorities and testifying frequently before 
Congress.
  I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with him on behalf 
of the residents of Syracuse. And while his leadership and guidance 
will be missed, thousands of people will continue to benefit from his 
work for decades to come.

                          ____________________