[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 10 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E63-E64]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MICHAEL D. FEZZEY'S COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE GREATER 
                        DETROIT AREA OF MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 25, 2013

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor long time 
philanthropist and community advocate Michael Fezzey for his deep 
commitment and years of service to the Greater Detroit area. I've had 
the honor of knowing and working with Mike for many years.
  Currently, Mike Fezzey is the president of Huntington National Bank's 
East Michigan region. Prior to joining Huntington, Mike was the 
president and general manager of WJR-AM radio. In addition to leading 
WJR from 1994 through 2010, he also launched and ran Radio Disney 
Detroit programming for ABC.
  A native of Detroit, Mike's service to the community has been broad 
based with particular emphasis on improving the region's philanthropic 
giving and the image and reputation of Southeast Michigan. He has 
served on a number of boards including Cornerstone Schools, New 
Detroit, the Children's Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Detroit 
Economic Club, the Parade Company, For the Kids Foundation, Sweet 
Dreamzzz Detroit and Forgotten Harvest. Mike is the former chair of the 
Detroit Regional Chamber's marketing committee and former president of 
the Detroit Advertising Association.
  In his role with WJR, Mike earned the prestigious Peabody Award from 
the University of Georgia and the Neil Shine award for philanthropy in 
journalism. He and his wife were awarded the John Dingell Heroes for 
Babies award in 2010 and were the Michigan Arthritis Foundation's 
Tribute to Excellence honorees in 2011. Mike also holds an Honorary 
Doctorate in Public Service from Central Michigan University and was 
named a John Aldinger Honorary Professor by Michigan State University 
in 2008.
  In his current position at Huntington Bank, Mike Fezzey was 
instrumental in creating a public private partnership that included 
Huntington Bank, the city of Hamtramck, state officials, the Greater 
Metropolitan Association of Realtors and the Michigan Association of 
Home Builders. This partnership produced a $50-million initiative to 
complete construction of 104 homes around Hamtramck. This initiative 
fulfilled the federal court-ordered construction of 200 single-family 
homes that stemmed from a decades-long racial discrimination lawsuit. 
Under Mike's leadership, Huntington Bank was the only financial 
institution to help resolve this oldest housing discrimination lawsuit 
in America.

[[Page E64]]

  As I close, I can say with confidence that our community is a better 
place thanks to the ongoing, selfless service of people like Michael 
Fezzey. His leadership in the area of housing has earned the admiration 
of those throughout Southeast Michigan and I am pleased to recognize 
that leadership today in the United States Congress.

                          ____________________