[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING RAY HACKETT ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE NORWICH BULLETIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2015

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a legendary 
journalist in eastern Connecticut, Ray Hackett. After 40 years in 
journalism, the past 27 years at the Norwich Bulletin in Connecticut, 
Ray is retiring this month from the profession he has loved.
  Ray's life journey included completing two tours for the United 
States Army in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and being awarded 
the Bronze Star when he was 19. Ray does not talk about his military 
service often, but his experiences have helped shape his reporting and 
influenced our region's conscience on the treatment of veterans 
returning home from war. Ray's account of the first time he visited the 
Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, accompanied by his daughter, to 
see the names of his fallen comrades is moving and unforgettable.
  Ray's first experience in journalism was spending ten years on radio, 
including time with Armed Forces Radio and Television. He joined the 
Norwich Bulletin in 1988, covering the city hall beat. Ray was promoted 
to serve as City Editor from 1994 to 2000 and moved to the opinion page 
in 2000, serving as Editorial Page Editor and focusing on politics.
  As the influence of his political punditry grew, Ray became 
increasingly tapped as a moderator for political debates for races up 
and down the ticket. As a debate moderator, he became known for asking 
tough, thoughtful questions which gave the voters of eastern 
Connecticut much needed answers. He also connected candidates directly 
with the public by broadcasting editorial board meetings with all 
candidates during election cycles.
  Ray's numerous honors include being named the three time GateHouse 
Media Editorial Writer of the Year in 2009, 2011, and 2013. He won 
awards in 2008, 2012, and 2013 from the Connecticut Society for 
Professional Journalism for editorial excellence. Additionally, Ray was 
awarded First Place for the Dear Governor project in 2010 from both the 
New England Newspaper & Press Association and the Associated Press 
Managing Editors Association.
  In my view, one of Ray's accomplishments outshines even these honors 
bestowed by his colleagues--the dedicated push he made to bring U.S. 
Army Captain and Waterford native Arnold ``Arnie'' Holm's remains home 
to Connecticut. Captain Holm was killed in action in Vietnam in 1972, 
and his body never recovered. Working with Holm's friend Bill Cavalieri 
and his widow Margarete Holm, Ray kept up the drumbeat in the media to 
find Holm's remains and return them for proper burial. Decades after 
their passing, Holm's remains were discovered in 2011 at a helicopter 
crash site in the central highlands of Vietnam. In a fitting final 
chapter to this story, my office was notified this week that the 
headstone marking the grave of Holm and his two comrades was installed 
at Arlington National Cemetery.
  Ray has said that his inspiration as a journalist has always been to 
``think like a reader'' and ``never forget, they all don't think like 
you.'' This approach has earned Ray access to readers of all stripes in 
eastern Connecticut and garnered their respect, even if disagreeing 
with his reporting or his opinions.
  When Ray Hackett steps down this month from the Norwich Bulletin, 
eastern Connecticut will lose an irreplaceable asset--a reporter and 
editor who embraced the coverage of all 64 towns in the Second 
Congressional District, the diversity of our urban, suburban, and rural 
communities, and the politics and policy issues that animate 
discussions in our diners and at our kitchen tables across our region. 
Ray leaves a significant journalistic footprint in eastern Connecticut 
that will not be matched for a long time. Even in an era of a 24 hour 
news cycle, he represents a journalistic ethos marked by integrity in 
pursuit of impartial truth.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Ray Hackett on an 
illustrious career and wishing him the best in a well-earned 
retirement.

                          ____________________