[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSIONER ERIC 
                                 MOWER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2008

  Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to my 
friend, a dedicated public servant in his own right, Eric Mower. Eric 
has an outstanding record of dedicated service and contributions to the 
betterment of communities across upstate New York.
  A highly successful civic and business leader, Eric is the chairman 
and CEO of Eric Mower and Associates, one of our Nation's largest 
public relations firms. He is also a member of numerous community 
boards and organizations, including United Way of Central New York, the 
Boy Scouts of America, and the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.
  Eric was the initial chair of the highly successful Syracuse 
Neighborhood Initiative, a private-public non-profit collaboration that 
I launched in 1999 to revitalize neighborhoods and increase home 
ownership in the city of Syracuse. He capably led efforts to develop 
partnerships and garner support from the private sector to leverage 
federal resources.
  Eric currently serves as chair of the Erie Canalway National Heritage 
Corridor Commission, a position he will be vacating in June. His 
leadership on the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission 
has been integral. The Corridor, founded in 2000, encompasses 80 
percent of upstate New York's population, including 234 communities. 
Since 2002 when Eric was named chair of the commission, he has led the 
fledgling National Heritage Corridor through much growth and success. 
Under his direction the Corridor Commission has leveraged millions of 
dollars in support and has helped multiple canal communities fund 
projects to enhance and showcase the canal. The successful Trails and 
Rails program continues to grow, and last year the Commission hosted an 
historic 1,000-mile Grand Canal Journey of a replica schooner visiting 
28 cities and towns along the Erie Canal.
  On behalf of the people of the entire 25th Congressional District of 
New York, I thank him for his distinguished service. I am very proud to 
have worked with Eric over the years. He is an extraordinary individual 
and brings his considerable talents to every endeavor he undertakes. 
While he will no longer be chair of the Commission, I'm confident that 
his presence as a member will continue be a great benefit to the Erie 
Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission.

                          ____________________