[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS AND MR. DON DOWD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to commend Special Olympics, 
Massachusetts and longtime friend Donald J. Dowd. Both Special 
Olympics, Massachusetts and Mr. Dowd have been fixtures in New England 
and wonderful contributors to the people and culture of our region.
  As my colleagues know, Special Olympics provides year-round sports 
training, athletic competition and other related programming for 
athletes with intellectual disabilities.
  This organization founded by my Aunt Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, 
contributes to the physical, social, and psychological development of 
people with intellectual disabilities. It is a global force for change 
with over 2.5 million athletes participating world wide representing 
over 140 countries.
  In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Special Olympics does amazing 
things for the people of New England. Special Olympics Massachusetts 
also offers Unified Sports, an initiative that combines approximately 
equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without 
intellectual disabilities, called Partners, on sports teams for 
training and competition.
  One of Special Olympics' greatest supporters has been Donald Dowd, or 
Don as I affectionately call him. He worked for and volunteered for my 
Father in the Other Body for over 40 years, as well as for my uncles. 
He was responsible for coordinating the opening of the John F. Kennedy 
Presidential Library and has served as a member of the John F. Kennedy 
Library Foundation Board since its inception, helping to found the 
Friends of the Kennedy Library.
  He is a lifelong resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, began his 
career in public service as President Kennedy's Assistant Regional 
Director of the U.S. Postal Service for the six New England States, and 
was a political advisor to U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. I am proud 
to call him a friend and thank him for his dedication to my family, to 
Special Olympics, to our region and to our country.

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