[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOMAS BYRNE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. 
Thomas Byrne, former Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota who died on Sunday, 
April 5. While the city of St. Paul mourns the loss of a great civil 
servant, it is also a time to reflect on the legacy of this remarkable 
Minnesotan.
  Elected St. Paul's mayor in 1966 and again in 1968, Mr. Byrne's time 
in office is remembered for his commitment to community and 
transparency, and for his abiding love for the great city of St. Paul. 
He was dedicated to the idea that government best serves its people 
when it is accessible and open to all, an idea that to this day 
underpins the very spirit of Saint Paul's local government.
  During his very first year as mayor, Thomas Byrne brought back one of 
St. Paul's most festive traditions, its annual St. Patrick's Day 
parade. While the Irish-themed celebration may be the most tangible 
result of Byrne's time in office, his legacy runs much deeper. He 
managed to pass a city-wide housing law, and helped make St. Paul the 
first city in the United States to pass a human rights ordinance, all 
while fostering an environment of open dialogue that has become 
tradition in St. Paul. When protestors once staged a peaceful sit-in at 
his office, Mayor Byrne brought them coffee and doughnuts, a testament 
to his approach to politics.
  Thomas Byrne was an exceptional man not only for his service to the 
city of St. Paul, but for his service to our great nation. After 
growing up in St. Paul, where he attended Cretin High School, Mr. Byrne 
enrolled at the University of St. Thomas for a bachelor's degree in 
education. He put his own education on hold, however, to serve as a 
navigator for the Army Air Corps during World War II. Stationed in 
Italy, he flew over 50 missions before returning home to receive his 
bachelor's degree from St. Thomas, and a master's degree in education 
from the University of Minnesota.
  Both before and after his career as mayor, Thomas Byrne worked as a 
teacher and administrator for the St. Paul public school system. He 
served on the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Commission, the Minnesota 
Municipal Commission, and in his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. 
He was a member of the Holy Spirit Men's Club and Choir, the St. Paul 
Federation of Teachers, the St. Paul Volunteer Bureau, his local 
American Legion chapter, and countless other community groups from 
Little League to the Knights of Columbus.
  Thomas Byrne was the true embodiment of an active, involved citizen. 
A profound love for his community motivated him to give back in every 
way he could. Like so many Minnesotans, however, he still found time to 
fish at the family cabin in Northern Minnesota.
  On behalf of myself, the City of St. Paul, and the state of 
Minnesota, I wish to honor the life and legacy of Thomas Byrne. I offer 
my thoughts and my prayers to Mary Therese Byrne, Thomas' wife of 63 
years, and his three remaining children, Tim Byrne, Joseph Byrne, and 
Margaret Allen.

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