[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE REV. GREGORY F. LUCEY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
             RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF SPRING HILL COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to honor the long and distinguished career of the Rev. Gregory F. 
Lucey on the occasion of his retirement as president of Spring Hill 
College in Mobile.
   For the past 10 years, Father Lucey has been an integral part of the 
Mobile community. As Mobile's Press-Register wrote in a tribute, ``His 
remarkable accomplishments will set the standard for leadership at 
[Spring Hill College] for years to come.''
   Father Lucey was a student at Campion Jesuit High School, a boarding 
school in Wisconsin, when he chose to follow in his brother's footsteps 
and become a Jesuit priest. Ordained in 1964, Father Lucey has said he 
knew then that God had a plan for his life. He went on to earn a 
master's degree in education as well as undergraduate and graduate 
degrees in philosophy from St. Louis University. He earned a master's 
degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame, and later, he 
earned a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of 
Wisconsin at Madison.
   Following his educational pursuits, Father Lucey served as a teacher 
at his former high school before being named the school's principal a 
short time later. Just one year later, he was named president of 
Campion Jesuit High School.
   From there, Father Lucey went on to Seattle University where he 
served as vice president for development. In 1988, Father Lucey 
returned to a spiritual role, serving as rector of the Jesuit community 
at Marquette University. He then went on to become president and 
chairman of the board of the National Jesuit Conference in Washington, 
D.C.
   In 1997, Father Lucey was named president of Spring Hill College, 
and over the past 11 years, he has earned an admirable record of 
accomplishment. Enrollment has increased by over 15 percent during his 
tenure, and he has helped grow the college's endowment by almost $20 
million. The campus has also experienced tremendous growth--the 
construction of six new buildings and the renovation of eight others. 
Spring Hill College also consistently receives high marks in U.S. News 
& World Report's college rankings.
   Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
dedicated spiritual and community leader as well as friend to many 
throughout south Alabama. I know his friends and colleagues join me in 
extending thanks for his service over the years. On behalf of a 
grateful community, I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

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