[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E479]]


 CONGRATULATING THOMAS F. BURKE AS HE IS NAMED ``MAN OF THE YEAR'' BY 
           THE GREATER PITTSTON FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2007

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 
Honorable Thomas F. Burke, Jr., on the occasion of being named ``Man of 
the Year'' by the Greater Pittston Pennsylvania Friendly Sons of St. 
Patrick.
  Judge Burke serves on the Luzerne County Pennsylvania Court of Common 
Pleas, the 11th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  A native of West Pittston, Judge Burke was appointed to the bench by 
former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. He was unanimously approved by the 
Pennsylvania Senate. Judge Burke took office May 22, 1998, and was 
elected to a full 10-year term of office by the voters of Luzerne 
County in 1999.
  Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Burke was engaged in the 
practice of law for 25 years and, for several years, was a partner with 
his brother, Atty. Joseph D. Burke, in the law offices of Burke and 
Burke. He served as a member of the executive committee of the Wilkes-
Barre Law and Library Association.
  He was also a director and president of the First Bank of Greater 
Pittston and served as a director of successor banking institutions.
  A summa cum laude graduate of West Pittston High School, Judge Burke 
was inducted into the Wyoming Area Football ``Ring of Pride'' in 2005. 
Judge Burke is an honors graduate with a BA degree in finance from 
Lehigh University and he received his Juris Doctor degree from 
Villanova University School of Law.
  Judge Burke is a veteran of the United States Army and was awarded 
the Bronze Star for meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam.
  Judge Burke is a former chairman of the board of trustees of Marywood 
University and was awarded the presidential medal from that institution 
in 2004. He is also a past president of the board of directors of the 
Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce and he served as chairman of the 
board of directors of Catholic Social Services of Wyoming Valley. He 
formerly served as a member of the President's Council of King's 
College and as vice chairman of the board of directors of the Luzerne 
Foundation. Judge Burke served three terms on the board of directors of 
the United Way of Wyoming Valley and also chaired the capital campaigns 
for the Greater Pittston YMCA and the Salvation Army, West Pittston, 
where he also served as a member of the Advisory Council.

  Judge Burke and his wife, Peggy, are members of the parish community 
of St. Casimir, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist and St. 
Joseph where they serve in the Baptismal Ministry and where Judge Burke 
serves as a lector and as a member of the parish financial council. 
They are the parents of five children: Tom, a student at Harvard Law 
School; Bill, a student at Fordham Law School; Margy, a student at 
Boston College; Katey, a student at Lehigh University; and Patrick, a 
student at Scranton Preparatory School.
  Since 1992, the Burke family has hosted students from Ireland, Japan 
and France.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Judge Burke on this 
fine honor. The enormity of his contributions to the law, his family 
and community speaks volumes about his dedication, stamina and 
commitment and serves as a shining example for others to emulate.

                          ____________________