[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING WILLIAM DELMONT, LACKAWANNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITIZEN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2007

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, tomorrow, Wednesday, March 28, 2007, the 
Chamber of Commerce of the great City of Lackawanna, New York will name 
its annual Citizen of the Year. While many great Western New Yorkers 
have been so honored by the Chamber over the years, in 2007 the Chamber 
will bestow this honor upon one of the greats in the city's history--
the founder, publisher and editor of the Front Page newspaper, William 
Delmont.
  As publisher of the weekly publications Front Page and South Buffalo 
News, Bill has been a journalistic icon in Western New York. Long the 
official publication for numerous local governments and school 
districts, Bill's newspapers maintain a hometown flavor that is rarely 
seen in this day and age.
  Most of all, however, Bill Delmont is one of Lackawanna's many 
treasures. A longtime business owner, entrepreneur and civic leader, 
Bill Delmont's dedication to his hometown is inspirational indeed. Bill 
has long been a fighter for Lackawanna and for its citizens, and has 
consistently strived to provide opportunities to those citizens, be it 
in public service or in the private sector.
  Bill has been honored many times over for his commitment to 
Lackawanna, as an honoree of the Lake Erie Italian Club, the Lackawanna 
Area Historical Association, the Our Lady of Victory Hospital, and the 
Matthew Glab Post 1477, and was recently named a Paul Harris Fellow by 
the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
  One of Bill's most significant accomplishments has been his decades-
long leadership of the Erie County Conservative Party. Bill is perhaps 
the wisest political sage in Western New York, and I suspect that not 
one serious candidate for high political office in Western New York 
failed to call upon Bill for advice and counsel over the years. Since 
my first run for public office in 1987, Bill Delmont has stood with me 
as a trusted adviser and friend whose support I have been proud to 
receive. It would be impossible for me to adequately recount or repay 
his many kindnesses and courtesies to me, both personally as well as 
professionally, but it is very fitting, Madam Speaker, that I ask you 
and all of our colleagues here join me in offering our most sincere 
congratulations to Lackawanna, New York's favorite son, Bill Delmont, 
upon his receipt of this prestigious honor.

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