[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E191-E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN MEMORIAL RECOGNITION OF THOMAS TIGUE FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO 
                    THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2016

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Tigue, who 
passed away Monday, February 1, 2016. As a war veteran, school board 
member, state representative, father, and grandfather, Tom's life was 
one dedicated to helping others. Tom will be honored posthumously by 
the Pittston Sunday Dispatch, receiving the paper's Joseph Saporito Sr. 
Lifetime of Service Award.
  Born and raised in Hughestown, Thomas was a graduate of St. John the 
Evangelist High School in Pittston in 1964. He received his degree in 
Government from King's College in Wilkes-Barre while also serving as a 
reservist in the Marine Corps. Following graduation, Tom married and 
deployed to Vietnam. While serving as an Infantry Platoon Commander, 
Thomas earned a Silver Star for gallantry in combat. He remained with 
the Marine Corps Reserve for 27 years before returning to work as a 
counselor at Hickory Run State Park in White Haven and as a computer 
program analyst for Metropolitan Life Insurance, both while taking 
business classes at King's College. From 1977-1979, Tigue served on the 
Pittston Area School Board.
  In 1980, Tom was elected as a Representative for the 118th 
Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 
serving the residents of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Monroe counties. He 
remained in the State House for 26 years, retiring in 2006. During his 
tenure, Thomas served as the Democratic Chair of the House Veterans 
Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, where he helped establish 
the Military Family Relief Assistance Program which provides assistance 
to eligible Pennsylvania service members and their family members 
financially impacted by military service. After his service in the 
legislature, Thomas worked as Managing Director of the Delaware River 
Maritime Enterprise Council until his retirement in 2010.
  It is an honor to recognize an individual who led a truly outstanding 
life. I am grateful for all of the work Thomas did for his community 
and for the people of Pennsylvania. His passing,

[[Page E192]]

only six months after his wife Dianne's passing, is deeply saddening, 
and he will be greatly missed by the many people he helped.

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