[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E73]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JOE HALLETT UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 15, 2014

  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize senior 
editor Joe Hallett of The Columbus Dispatch upon his retirement.
   For nearly four decades, Joe has been chronicling the political 
happenings in Ohio. He began his career at his hometown paper in 
Wauseon, Ohio. He then moved on to The Toledo Blade where he spent 15 
years and later joined The Cleveland Plain Dealer where he served as 
chief political writer and Statehouse reporter. In 1999 he came to The 
Columbus Dispatch as its political editor. Now as senior editor and 
chief political writer, he has coordinated The Dispatch's coverage of 
presidential elections since 2000, including both parities' political 
conventions. Both the Associated Press and the Society of Professional 
Journalists have named him Ohio's best political writer, recognizing 
him as a mainstay in Ohio's press corps.
   Upon his retirement, long-time readers will certainly miss his 
straight-forward, no-nonsense style. But his strength wasn't just 
thoughtful analysis and skilled political reporting, whether somber or 
jovial, his columns made people and places come alive. His reports from 
Haiti detailing the desperation of mothers literally feeding their 
children mud pies and the despair of Port-au-Prince's slums also 
described the feelings of hope that ran deep in the hearts of people he 
met. His summer staple, a column about his annual fishing trip, let 
readers figuratively join him on his expeditions, catching walleye and 
northern pike, cooking shore lunches, playing poker and ribbing with 
his friends as this virtual focus group dissected Ohio politics. While 
he is moving on to the next phase in his life, Joe will never stop 
doing what he loves: asking questions and analyzing current events and 
their impact on Ohioans.
   On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's 12th Congressional District, I 
would like to wish Joe the best of luck and thank him for his devotion 
to political reporting, and the great state of Ohio.

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