[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 133 (Friday, October 5, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1685-E1686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF BOB MURRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2012

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Bob 
Murray for his long and distinguished career helping families on Cape 
Cod.
  For the past twenty-five years, Bob has been one of the Cape's 
strongest advocates for those who are in need of a home. He first 
became involved with helping the homeless when he was a small business 
owner and town selectman in Arlington, Massachusetts. Upon his 
retirement, Bob, like many in Massachusetts, chose to relocate to the 
Cape. Unlike most, however, his work did not end there. Instead, Bob 
chose to dedicate himself to helping those who are struggling with 
homelessness. When he found out that several local families were living 
in hotels, and threatened with losing even that form of shelter, he 
went into action, visiting every local pastor in the town of Harwich 
and raising money to help these families establish new homes. This 
grassroots initiative quickly grew into the Harwich Ecumenical Council 
for Housing, or HECH, an organization that has helped countless 
families since it was officially founded in 1990. Today, HECH's many 
responsibilities include the management of a portfolio of fifty-eight 
of its own rental units, one-to-one assistance with homeownership 
opportunities, and individual counseling. In addition, HECH founded The 
Children's Center of Harwich, a year-round childcare program that has 
proven to be an important resource for the area's working families.
  Bob's compassion for those struggling with homelessness has reached 
nearly every corner of Cape Cod. In addition to being the president and 
founder of HECH, Bob was also a founding board member of the Family 
Pantry of Cape Cod, an organization that has provided food and clothing 
to those in need for nearly twenty-three years. He also founded the 
Falmouth Service Center in Falmouth, Massachusetts, a one-stop 
organization that provides housing opportunities, clothing, and 
community resources to local families. Nonprofits nationwide now turn 
to Bob for consulting, as his story is seen as a model of what can be 
accomplished when one is truly dedicated to helping others.
  Residents of Cape Cod's shoreline know Bob as the man who loves to 
raise awareness for a good cause. For the past twenty years, Bob has 
organized the annual Housing with Love Walk on Cape Cod, leading others 
as they walk along the coast from Provincetown to Sandwich in order to 
raise awareness for the issues faced by the homeless. This year, Bob's 
organizations joined forces with several other local nonprofits, and 
over a quarter of a million dollars was raised for those in need. Known 
as an ``entrepreneur with a deep heart,'' Bob is well-loved by his 
friends and coworkers. He continues to work tirelessly with his wife, 
Judy, in ensuring that no family on Cape Cod faces the incredible 
hardship of homelessness.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Bob Murray for his 
extraordinary career in helping others. I am proud to call him my 
friend and I ask that my colleagues join me in

[[Page E1686]]

honoring all that he has done for the families of Cape Cod.

                          ____________________