[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MOURNING THE LOSS OF JOHNNY GRANT, HONORARY MAYOR OF HOLLYWOOD

  (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I learned of 
the death my dear friend Johnny Grant, known internationally as the 
honorary Mayor of Hollywood. His departure from our lives has created a 
significant void in the normal glitz and glamour of everyday Hollywood. 
Johnny was a symbol of great Hollywood movers and shakers who took 
sincere interest in creating goodwill worldwide.
  Johnny's legendary accomplishments in Hollywood drew strongly from 
his roots in radio and television. He was one of television medium's 
earliest pioneers and stars. Johnny traveled the world to entertain 
U.S. troops in his role as the United Service Organization ambassador. 
He joined comedian Bob Hope in taking entertainers to war zones to 
perform for military personnel and was the first recipient of the 
highest honor awarded by the USO. Johnny was also a retired major 
general in the California State Military Reserve, a volunteer backup 
and support force of the National Guard.
  Johnny Grant served as chairman of the Los Angeles City Fire 
Commission; the Los Angeles County Social Service Commission; and the 
Burbank, California Police Commission. More recently, he had been a 
member of the Los Angeles City Cultural Heritage Commission. He was the 
only person ever to twice receive an Order of California, the State's 
highest honor.
  A lifelong bachelor, Johnny Grant was best known to television 
audiences around the world as the enthusiastic host alongside the more 
than 500 celebrities he inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With 
his ebullient style, Johnny was one of the west coast's most sought 
after masters of ceremony. He emceed more than 5,000 civic and charity 
events. Johnny was also a humanitarian who produced hundreds of charity 
events where he was instrumental in raising millions of dollars for the 
USO, for the Boy Scouts, the Arthritis Foundation, police and fire 
services, veterans organizations, and others.
  Although he has an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the 
real star, his presence and inspiration will be sorely missed. We will 
miss him. And just last month he completed his 60th trip to entertain 
servicemen and women abroad.
  We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, 
and his many close friends here on Capitol Hill, in California, and 
around the world.

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