[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 75 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H2319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING HAROLD HAYES

  (Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission 
to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize one of my constituents, Harold Hayes, who is retiring after 
more than 35 years in broadcasting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  Harold has a lifelong connection to the city of Pittsburgh. Born in 
McKeesport, Harold went on to graduate from South Hills High School and 
then from the University of Pittsburgh.
  He joined KDKA-TV as a reporter in 1979, and he has been there ever 
since, providing the people of southwestern Pennsylvania with solid, 
objective reporting about the news that matters to them.
  There is no doubt that Harold Hayes has served as Pittsburgh's 
reporter throughout his many years with KDKA. I want to commend Harold 
for his contributions to our community, congratulate him on his 
retirement, and wish him all the best as he begins the next phase of 
his life.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Harold 
Hayes, who's retiring after more than thirty-five years in broadcasting 
in Pittsburgh, PA.
  Harold has a lifelong connection to the City of Pittsburgh. Born in 
McKeesport, Harold went on to graduate from South Hills High School and 
then from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree 
in Speech and Communications. After graduation, Harold worked as a 
research assistant in the ``Reading is Fundamental'' program, sponsored 
by the Urban League of Pittsburgh.
  In August of 1979, Harold joined KDKA-TV as a reporter, and he's been 
there ever since, providing the people of southwestern Pennsylvania 
with solid, objective reporting about the news that matters to them. 
Since joining the station, Harold has covered everything from military 
operations in the Middle East to landmark local court cases. He has 
amassed an impressive portfolio of overseas coverage, including 
reporting on Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia in 1990, the 
government of Kuwait's memorial to the local lives lost during 
Operation Desert Storm in 1993, and the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 
2005.
  Yet his touch has really been felt locally, not only reporting on the 
day-to-day lives of Pittsburghers, but even making sure to follow up on 
stories that made headlines years ago. For example, he covered the 1981 
court desegregation order that resulted in the creation of the Woodland 
Hills School District. Twenty years later, he found one of the students 
he had interviewed back then, and discovered that the former student 
now had a child who was about to graduate from Woodland Hills as well. 
It is this type of dedication and compassion that has distinguished 
Harold from most other reporters in Pittsburgh for years.
  Harold has covered both tragedy and triumph, as well as the personal 
stories of working people, Presidents, and protesters all with equal 
grace, fairness, compassion, and his special dry sense of humor. Harold 
brings both humility and perspective to his work every day, and because 
of that, has remained a consummate professional throughout his 37 years 
of work. He represents that high level of personal integrity and the 
demanding work ethic that characterize the people of Southwestern 
Pennsylvania. There is no doubt that Harold Hayes has served as 
``Pittsburgh's Reporter'' throughout his many years with KDKA. We will 
miss Harold's presence on the air.
  Harold represents the best that there is in broadcast journalism, and 
he will be recognized for his contributions by the National Academy of 
Television Arts & Sciences in September when he will receive a Lifetime 
Achievement Award at a ceremony in Philadelphia, PA.
  Harold's commitment to our community extends far beyond his career as 
a newsman. He has also become a spokesperson for the Negro Educational 
Emergency Fund (NEED), and he created a scholarship in his mother's 
name for local students. In addition, he helps raise money for the Rev. 
J. Harold Hayes Scholarship, named for his late father, a former pastor 
of Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport.
  I want to commend Harold for his contributions to our community, 
congratulate him on his retirement, and wish him all the best as he 
begins the next phase of his life.

                          ____________________