[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING JOSEPH A. PAGLIANITE ON RECEIVING THE ITALIAN AMERICAN 
       ASSOCIATION OF LUZERNE COUNTY'S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph 
A. Paglianite, this year's recipient of the ``Lifetime Achievement'' 
award from the Italian American Association of Luzerne County.
  The Italian American Association of Luzerne County will hold its 33rd 
annual Columbus Day Dinner Dance in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 
October 10, 2010.
  The Association currently has over 200 members.
  Each year, the Association honors one of its members with its 
``Lifetime Achievement'' award. Members meeting broad criteria are 
nominated and the award is ultimately selected by the Association's 
Board of Directors.
  This year's recipient is Joseph A. Paglianite of Dallas, 
Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Paglianite was born in Wyoming, Pennsylvania on October 13, 1925. 
He is the son of Antonio and Mary Paglianite.
  Mr. Paglianite graduated from Wyoming High School before working as a 
wielder and inspector in the aircraft manufacturing industry.
  After a short time working in the aircraft manufacturing industry, 
Mr. Paglianite was motivated by his Uncle's pizzeria to change careers 
and enter into the pizza business. In 1953, he opened Joe's Pizza in 
Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania.
  By 1960, with the help of his brother-in-law, Mr. Paglianite had 
transformed Joe's Pizza into Grotto Pizza, and they opened their first 
restaurant in Delaware. Over the next few years, Grotto Pizza's success 
in Delaware led to more locations throughout the state.
  In 1988, a fire destroyed the original restaurant in Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Paglianite and his family rebuilt a new 650-seat restaurant on the 
original site, and two more restaurants in Edwardsville and Wilkes-
Barre quickly followed.
  Today, along with the three locations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, 
there exist eighteen Grotto Pizza restaurants in Delaware.
  Mr. Paglianite's success as an entrepreneur has been an inspiration 
throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
  This year, the Luzerne County Community College will open the Joseph 
A. Paglianite Culinary Institute. Mr. Paglianite has donated over one 
million dollars to LCCC for the development of the new Culinary 
Institute and a scholarship program for first-year culinary students.
  Mr. Paglianite is a member of the Plymouth Rotary Club and a member 
of the Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church in Dallas.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Joseph A. Paglianite 
on this auspicious occasion. His hard work and generosity will continue 
to live on in northeastern Pennsylvania for generations.

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