[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 146 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MAURICE SPIEGEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2011

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my constituent, 
Maurice Spiegel, who will turn 100 years old on October 27, 2011. 
Maurie, as he is known, is the son of Max Spiegel and Ida Kaplan, and 
has an older sister, Tillie, and five brothers, Lou, Irv, Frank, Hy, 
and Bill.
  Growing up near Roosevelt Road and Halsted Street in the City of 
Chicago, Maurie encountered great difficulties as a young boy. His 
family struggled to make ends meet, and his mother had to raise the 
children on her own. To help his family, Maurie began selling 
newspapers, putting whatever he earned under his mother's pillow. When 
his family could no longer afford school supplies, Maurie dropped out 
of high school and started working in order to contribute even more.
  According to his family, Maurie was very athletic as a child. He was 
well known for his skills in soft ball and hitting home runs. He was 
also a great swimmer, once saving a child from drowning. Living in a 
tough neighborhood, Maurie learned to defend himself and his younger 
brothers, though he always maintained that he never started a fight, 
just finished them! Today, Maurie is now known for his outstanding 
ability in the game of checkers.
  During World War II, Maurie served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 
and was stationed in Attu, which is the westernmost island of the 
Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Maurie obtained his high school G.E.D. and 
took several college courses under the G.I. Bill after his military 
service. He worked various positions for the United States Postal 
Service in Chicago for 27 years until his retirement. Despite being 
retired, Maurie worked as a messenger for Continental Bank for another 
15 years. Since high school, Maurie has worked full time until he was 
almost 80 years old.
  Maurie married the love of his life, Lucille, and had one son, 
Harvey. Lucille and Maurie moved into North Park Village Apartments in 
1984. Lucille passed away in 1987. Harvey says of his parents, ``My dad 
was the most loyal and reliable husband to my mom. They were a couple 
who truly loved each other.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maurice 
``Maurie'' Spiegel on his 100th birthday. His life is a wonderful 
testament of his immense love for his family and of his outstanding 
dedication and service to his community and the United States of 
America.

                          ____________________