[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2053-E2054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF HAROLD (HAL) POTE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 3, 2007

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I, along with my colleague, 
Representative Bart Stupak, Co-Chair of the Spina Bifida Caucus, would 
like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the life of Harold 
(Hal) Pote. Hal Pote, the founder and President of the Spina Bifida 
Foundation (SBF), passed away unexpectedly on June 26, 2007. Mr. Pote's 
dedication towards educating the public on the Nation's most common, 
permanently disabling birth defect has not gone unnoticed. We are 
deeply saddened by this loss and we know that many of our colleagues on 
Capitol Hill share these sentiments as well.
  Spina Bifida develops during the first month of pregnancy when the 
spinal column does not close completely. Over 70,000 individuals in the 
United States currently live with Spina Bifida and it occurs in 
approximately seven out of every 10,000 live births. Mr. Pote began his 
campaign to increase awareness surrounding Spina Bifida when his nephew 
Gregory was born with this disabling condition almost 22 years ago. 
Gregory has undergone more than 20 surgeries, all of which Mr. Pote was 
there to support--and his dedication expands beyond his nephew as he 
was committed to ensuring that all individuals living with Spina

[[Page E2054]]

Bifida have access to, and enjoy, a high quality of life. Additionally, 
Mr. Pote devoted his efforts to preventing the incidence of Spina 
Bifida by educating women on the importance of consuming folic acid 
prior to pregnancy and throughout their childbearing years.
  Not only has Mr. Pote been successful in his endeavors to raise 
awareness surrounding Spina Bifida, he had a very successful business 
career as well. He attended Princeton University where he received a 
bachelor's degree in economics and subsequently received a Masters of 
Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Mr. Pote's hard 
work eventually led to his nomination as Chairman and CEO of Fidelity 
Bank at the age of 37. After co-founding the Beacon Group, he was 
appointed to lead Chase Manhattan's Regional Banking Group--eventually 
culminating with a position as chairman of Retail Financial Services 
for JP Morgan Chase. Once Mr. Pote retired from JP Morgan Chase, he 
served as CEO of the American Financial Realty Trust in Philadelphia.
  In its 8 years of existence, under Mr. Pote's steadfast leadership, 
SBF has achieved many incredible successes for the Spina Bifida 
community. Due to Mr. Pote's perseverance and commitment to reducing 
the suffering from Spina Bifida, and advancing medical research in the 
field, individuals born with Spina Bifida are now living much longer, 
fuller lives than they had previously.
  Mr. Pote's vision and dedication has helped not only Gregory, but 
tens of thousands of people who suffer from Spina Bifida as well. Hal 
Pote's sudden and unexpected death is a tragedy not only to his loved 
ones and the Spina Bifida community, but to all our colleagues who have 
lost a great man. To Mr. Pote's wife, Linda Johnson, his mother Lucille 
Bock Pote, his two brothers Frank and Corey Pote, and his nephews--we 
offer our deepest condolences.
  We ask our colleagues to join us in saluting and remembering this 
extraordinary man.

                          ____________________