[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN MEMORY OF PAUL MOLE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 2008

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Paul Mole, a 
family man, a Marine, an entrepreneur and a long-time friend to my 
wife, Janice, and I, as well as our children, who died too young this 
week at age 60.
  I met Paul more than 30 years ago while I was mayor of Simi Valley, 
California. A retired Marine and Purple Heart-decorated Vietnam War 
veteran, Paul served as the Marine bugler at Veterans Day and other 
veteran community events in Simi Valley and elsewhere throughout 
Ventura County. He founded the Marine Corps League Ventura County 
Detachment 597 to help active and retired Marines.
  The restaurant he and his wife, Roseann, purchased from Roseann's 
parents in 1974 and which they renamed Paul's Italian Villa, became a 
mainstay of community activity. Not only was it a meeting place--
official and unofficial--for the Marine Corps League, it served as the 
collection site for the annual Toys for Tots campaign for disadvantaged 
children, which Paul helped organize every year.
  In addition, the Royal High School football team carbed down on 
spaghetti at the restaurant and were treated to Marine cheers from Paul 
before every game. Like many in Simi Valley, my tie to the restaurant 
is also personal--my daughter, Shannon, was one of the many Simi Valley 
teens and young adults who found work at the restaurant. Once you 
became part of Paul's and Roseann's extended family, you never left.
  In addition to the restaurant, Paul was building a business repairing 
musical instruments, which grew out of his 1940s-style swing band, Paul 
Mole's Late Night Big Band. Paul played trumpet with 19 other 
professional musicians at community events and professional venues.
  Paul Mole's a man with a huge heart accented by a lively sense of 
humor and a love of life. He is survived by Roseann, his wife of 38 
years; two grown sons, Peter and Paul; two grandchildren; and too many 
friends to count. Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me 
offering our condolences to Roseann, Peter, Paul and the rest of the 
Mole family, and all who knew him and called him a friend.
  Godspeed, Paul.

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