[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E400-E401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM GRIFFEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL A. ARCURI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2007

  Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the truly 
honorable life of Mr. William Griffen of Tully, New York. Mr. Griffen 
was a student, an educator, an activist, a writer, a father, a husband, 
a friend, a neighbor, and an inspiration. Mr. Griffen will be 
remembered for the enthusiasm and sincerity he brought to his work 
throughout his 78 years.
  Mr. Griffen attended SUNY Cortland where he received his B.S. in 
Education and went on to attend Cornell University, earning his M.A. 
and Ed.D. Mr. Griffen taught in Brentwood and Marathon, New York, for 
several years before returning to Cortland to become SUNY Cortland's 
longest-tenured Professor of Education. A beloved institution, Mr. 
Griffen was also honored as a distinguished alumnus of the university, 
``teaching for over forty years and diligently working for peace and 
social justice at the local, state, national and international 
levels.''
  Mr. Griffen aspired to influence our country on many levels, running 
for Congress twice, in 1968 and 1990. His extensive contribution 
through his writings has been seen in over 50 articles addressing war, 
technology, civil

[[Page E401]]

rights, and revolution. Additionally, he coauthored the book of Lessons 
of the Vietnam War--A Critical Examination of School Texts and an 
Interpretive Comparative History Utilizing the Pentagon Papers and 
Other Documents. During the Vietnam War, he was responsible for 
starting the Cortland Citizens for Peace organization and went on to 
become very active in the anti-war movement. Mr. Griffen's dedication 
to activism also led him to Mississippi and Tennessee with the 
historic, pioneering freedom riders, where he worked to register 
minority voters so they could have a voice in government.
  Even in his later days, Mr. Griffen continued his spirit of activism, 
helping the American Cancer Society by participating in a new program 
for people diagnosed with prostate cancer. He trained volunteers in 
upstate New York to counsel cancer patients and served on the speakers' 
bureau at the Syracuse Man-to-Man Cancer Support Group.
  Many say that Mr. Griffen was truly a renaissance man, with interests 
in baseball, jazz, nature, photography, and the environment. He and his 
wife, Judy, had three children: Mark, Kimberly, and Amy.
  William Griffen gave his heart and soul to improve the lives of the 
people he touched. His contributions and his sacrifices will live on 
for generations in upstate New York and around our great country. Thank 
you, Mr. Griffen.

                          ____________________