[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING THE HONORABLE JOEL T. BROYHILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 25, 2006

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to share some 
sad news. One of Virginia's great public servants--former 10th District 
Congressman Joel T. Broyhill, a resident of Arlington, Virginia--died 
this past weekend.
  It could be said that this region of Virginia was shaped in many ways 
by the life of Congressman Broyhill. He laid the foundation for major 
transportation projects, including the Metrorail system, Washington 
Dulles International Airport, and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
  Congressman Broyhill dedicated most of his life to serving his 
country. He was born in Hopewell, Virginia, on November 4, 1919. He 
attended Fork Union Military Academy and then attended George 
Washington University. He also received an honorary doctorate degree 
from Georgetown University.
  Mr. Broyhill worked at his father's real estate company, M.T. 
Broyhill & Sons, which was a business his family began in Hopewell. The 
family later relocated to northern Virginia when Congressman Broyhill 
was growing up.
  Before coming to Congress, Congressman Broyhill had a distinguished 
military career in the U.S. Army. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 as 
an enlisted man and served in the European Theater during World War II 
in the 106th Infantry Division.
  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge at the age of 25 and was taken 
prisoner and held in a German POW camp. After six months in captivity, 
he saw a chance to escape. He and another American soldier hid under 
some hay in a barn, hoping that the Germans would not come through the 
barn looking for them and thrusting their bayonets into the hay. 
Fortunately, the Germans did not find them, and Mr. Broyhill made his 
escape. He rejoined advancing American forces and was released from 
active duty in 1945 as a captain of infantry.
  After the war, he resumed his family's real estate pursuits and in 
1952, the same year that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected, 
Mr. Broyhill was elected to the 83rd Congress from the 10th District of 
Virginia and to the 10 succeeding Congresses, serving for 22 years.
  I feel a special connection with Mr. Broyhill because I represent 
Virginia's 10th District today. Although the district has gone through 
a number of changes over the years, it was Congressman Broyhill who led 
the way. He was the first Member of Congress to represent the 10th 
District, Virginia's newest congressional district at that time.
  He began his congressional career and service as a member of the 
House committees on Post Office and Civil Service and the District of 
Columbia, and later became a member of the Ways and Means Committee. 
Congressman Broyhill was known for being a strong advocate for Federal 
and postal workers and for the postal service.
  It was appropriate that in the year 2000, Congress passed legislation 
I introduced which was signed into law naming the central mail 
processing facility for Northern Virginia in Merrifield in honor of 
Joel T. Broyhill.
  Congressman Broyhill served the people of Virginia honorably and was 
especially known for the way he took care of his constituents' needs. 
According to the Almanac of American Politics in 1972, and I quote, 
``There were few offices that took care of constituents' needs and 
complaints with more efficiency.'' Mr. Broyhill estimated that he had 
helped more than 100,000 residents of Virginia's 10th District during 
his more than 20 years in office. I still hear people today say 
``Congressman Broyhill helped me.''
  The almanac also describes Congressman Broyhill as one who, and I 
quote, ``should be credited with voting his conscience.''
  We salute today the life and dedicated public service of Joel T. 
Broyhill and offer our condolences to his three daughters, Nancy, 
Jeanne and Jane Anne; his stepdaughter, Kimi, and his wife of 25 years, 
Suzanne (Suzy). He also has four grandchildren: Meredith and Maureen, 
who are fraternal twins; Lindsey, and Kathleen, and three great-
grandchildren: Molly, Jack, and Kara.

                          ____________________