[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING TOM COFFEY

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember 
journalist and community leader Tom Coffey.
  Last week, Tom Coffey died at the age of 92. He was one of the old-
time newspaper guys. He never missed a chance to speak and listen to 
people he encountered.
  Mr. Coffey entered the news business as a copyboy when he graduated 
from Savannah High School in 1940. With the exception of a short time 
away to serve his country in World War II, where he was wounded in the 
Philippines, and a brief stint from 1969 to 1974, when he served as 
acting city manager of Savannah twice, he was a journalist until he 
retired as editor of the Savannah Morning News.
  More than 20 years ago, when Mr. Coffey retired in 1989, 
Representative Lindsay Thomas, my predecessor, referred to Tom as one 
of the most respected journalists in Georgia.
  During his life, Tom wrote about national news, including civil 
rights and desegregation, but he also wrote about the thrill of playing 
stickball in the backyards of Savannah and the local bootlegger who 
bribed local law enforcement.
  Tom's extraordinary career as a journalist and his work over the 
years has made life better for many people. He will truly be missed.

                          ____________________