[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1715
  CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN MICHAEL GRANVILLE, AN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
outstanding citizen of Buffalo and Western New York, John Michael 
Granville, an American diplomat who devoted his life to promoting peace 
through his humanitarian work in the continent of Africa.
  John Granville worked for the United States Agency for International 
Development in Sudan. He was fatally shot on New Year's Day after 
attending a party at the British Embassy in Khartoum. His driver was 
also killed. His sudden passing is a great shock to all of us, and my 
thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult 
time.
  In this senseless tragedy, we lost a man of peace and purpose, a man 
who dedicated himself to serving people that most of us will never know 
in a place we will never visit.
  John's love for Africa, its culture, its people was nurtured during 
his years of service there. His most recent work involved distributing 
radios to people in the southern part of Sudan to support his agency's 
broadcasting initiative in the region which was recovering from 21 
years of civil war. The goal was to prepare southern Sudan for 
elections in 2009 and a possible referendum on independence in 2011.
  Before joining the United States Agency for International 
Development, John served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon where 
he helped build the first school in a rural village there.
  In my capacity as a member of the Oversight and Government Reform 
Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, I have traveled 
to Sudan. I have seen firsthand how important the work of peacemakers 
like John is to the people in these war-torn regions.
  John knew the dangers he faced, and he went anyway, with dignity and 
conviction. Such was his commitment to serve the people of Africa.
  John Granville was a thoughtful and honorable man who was deeply 
loved by his family, friends and the community in my hometown of South 
Buffalo, New York. We are proud to salute John and honor him for his 
lasting service to our Nation and for the important humanitarian work 
that he was doing in Africa.
  John was a graduate of Canisius High School and Fordham University 
and earned a master's degree in international development from Clark 
University. A memorial scholarship has been established at Canisius 
High School in his memory as family, friends and classmates want to 
make sure that he is never forgotten.
  We know John will be missed beyond measure by his loving mother, 
Jane; his beloved sister, Katie; and brother-in-law, Sean; his loving 
nieces, Carolina, Julia, Hanna and Molly; and nephew, Matthew; his 
extended family and dear friends.
  I take the liberty of honoring John's life and legacy by including 
the statement issued by his family shortly after his death, and it 
read's: ``John's life was a celebration of love, hope and peace. He 
will be missed by many people throughout the world whose lives were 
touched and made better because of his care.''
  Everyone who knew and was influenced by John will mourn his loss in 
their own way. I will do my part to honor John's memory by calling upon 
the administration to strengthen its efforts to protect American 
diplomats serving overseas and to help end the genocide in Darfur and 
to bring peace and reconciliation to the Sudan.
  Mr. Speaker, on this night, this solemn and peaceful night in our 
Nation's capital, a neighborhood grieves because a family from that 
neighborhood grieves. Our neighborhood and family grieve the loss of a 
young, courageous man of peace and reconciliation. And Mr. Speaker, as 
we have lost a great young man doing God's work, tonight our Nation 
grieves with them.

                          ____________________