[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E283-E284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. MIKE CLEARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 29, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Mike 
Cleary and to acknowledge his receipt of the Walks of Life Award from 
the Irish American Archive Society.
  Mr. Cleary was raised in East Cleveland by his parents, both of whom 
were immigrants from Ireland. He graduated from St. Ignatius High 
School before attending John Carroll University. Mike also served for 
the U.S. Navy for two years aboard the USS Lake Champlain, an aircraft 
carrier.
  Prior to his retirement in 2011, Mr. Cleary worked in the collegiate 
and professional sports arena for 46 years. Early on in his career, he 
worked as a general manager for the Cleveland Pipers and Kansas City 
Steers. He later entered intercollegiate athletics and worked as the 
director of championship events for the National Collegiate Athletic 
Association. In 1965, he was hired as the executive director for the 
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
  Mr. Cleary was also the fund administrator for the John McLendon 
Minority Scholarship Foundation and served on the New Jersey Sports and 
Exposition Authority and U.S. Olympic Committee. He is highly regarded 
in the athletic world and has been recognized by the National Football 
Federation, College Hall of Fame, and in 2009, he was inducted into the 
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

[[Page E284]]

  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating Mr. Mike 
Cleary as he is honored by the Irish American Archive Society.

                          ____________________