[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H14162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR WILLIAM 
                                O'NEILL

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
legacy of former Governor William O'Neill, who passed away on November 
24, 2007.
  Bill O'Neill is today recognized as one of the giants of Connecticut 
history. He served as Governor from 1980 to 1982, and was a leader who 
had a commonsense, compassionate vision of government, raising 
teachers' salaries, rebuilding our roads, and creating a pathbreaking 
prescription drug benefit for seniors.
  In Connecticut over the last 2 weeks, there has been an outpouring of 
affection for the Governor and his wonderful surviving wife, Nikki, 
partly because of his great work for the people, but also because of 
the plainspoken, humble way he carried himself in the State's highest 
office.
  As the Irish would say, Bill O'Neill never put on airs. And that is 
why last week, at a funeral service at St. Patrick's Church in his 
beloved East Hampton, the same church he served as an altar boy and the 
same church he faithfully attended for over 70 years, people from all 
walks of life came to pay tribute to him and Nikki and honor a man who 
set a beautiful example for us all, of service, decency and compassion.
  I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring Governor O'Neill's 
contributions to Connecticut and offer sincerest condolences to his 
family and friends.

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