[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MEL B. O'REILLY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise to 
honor Mel B. O'Reilly for his dedicated work as a lawyer in New Mexico 
and tireless service to the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
  From an early age Mel was a committed family member and disciplined 
individual. At the ripe age of 12, Mel's father fell ill which meant 
working extra shifts in the family restaurant and bar.
  The extra hours he spent supporting his family meant less time for 
other activities and put a strain on Mel's attendance at morning chapel 
services. The parochial school's counselor, a monsignor, took notice 
and chastised Mel in front of his peers, called him a ``barmaid'' and 
threatened to expel him. Mel stood up to the monsignor and said: 
``There's no need to expel me, I'll quit school. I've got to go to 
work.''
  This hardship did not stop Mel's drive to succeed. He continued both 
working in the bar and studying, and during his senior year of high 
school, at 15 years old, Mel was ranked at the top of his class.
  Still, none of colleges Mel applied to accepted him; he would later 
find out that the monsignor wrote to every school and told them to 
reject him. It was not until Mel took a trip with some friends to Long 
Island that Mel met a recruiter from St. Michael's College in Santa Fe, 
NM. That recruiter saw a bright young man in Mel, and St. Michael's 
College welcomed him with open arms, forever changing his life.
  Mel would go on to graduate from St. Michael's College, and afterward 
from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1971. That same 
year, Mel married Monica McCormick, daughter of Don G. McCormick, and 
moved to Carlsbad to join the late Mr. McCormick's law firm.
  A few years later, Mel and Monica moved to Ruidoso where they raised 
twins, Colm and Dylan, and their youngest son, Brendan. Mel eventually 
opened his own law firm in Ruidoso in the late 70s. Mel practiced in 
all areas of law while in Ruidoso and developed an expertise in 
banking, commercial, corporate, real estate, and probate law.
  In 1989, Mel and the family moved to Albuquerque where he set up his 
private practice working on everything from personal injury and 
wrongful death to contract and collection cases. It was in Albuquerque 
where Mel volunteered his legal services to the Democratic Party of New 
Mexico, and served as a longtime ward chairman and Democratic Party 
supporter. He served many roles, including Chair of the Democratic 
Party of New Mexico's Resolutions Committee, the Rules Committee, and 
the Platform and By-Laws Committee and respective committees for the 
Democratic Party of Bernalillo County.
  A successful lawyer, community icon, and loving father--Mel is a 
talented man of courage and integrity. His character, love of life, 
enthusiasm and selflessness are felt by all who know him. As Mel enters 
retirement and reflects on his life and career, his proudest 
accomplishment is his family. He is very proud that he and his wife 
Monica raised three successful children: Dylan of Farmington and 
Brendan of Albuquerque who are both lawyers, and Colm who is an 
electrical engineer and renewable energy consultant living abroad.
  I wish Mel all the best as he looks forward to traveling with Monica, 
diving with CoIm, and spending time with Dylan and Brendan in his 
retirement. His achievements and accomplishments are truly remarkable. 
I join his family and friends in celebrating the contributions he made, 
throughout his life, to his family, his community, and the great State 
of New Mexico.

                          ____________________