[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING JACK WALSH, RECIPIENT OF THE 2017 CHARLES H. FLYNN 
                           HUMANITARIAN AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2017

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to join the 
communities of the Naugatuck Valley as they pay tribute to the 
outstanding and incalculable contributions of Jack Walsh by honoring 
him with the 47th Annual Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award. The 
oldest award of its kind, this prestigious honor is bestowed each year 
to a member of the Valley community in recognition of their lifetime 
commitment to service.
  A life-long resident of Derby, Connecticut, Jack dedicated his 
personal and professional life to enriching the many communities of the 
Naugatuck Valley and improving the quality of life for all of its 
residents. Jack began his career as a teacher in Shelton and Derby, a 
high school basketball coach in Shelton, and the Director of the Derby 
Recreation Camp. In each of these roles, Jack helped to shape the 
hearts and minds of the next generations of Valley residents, ensuring 
that they had access to educational opportunities and provided a strong 
foundation on which to build their future success.
  In 1989, Jack began his tenure as President & CEO of the Valley 
United Way--a career which spanned nearly thirty years until his 
retirement just last November. Under his tenure the organization grew 
as a community resource with the addition of the Youth Leadership 
Program, the Volunteer Action Center, and the partner Agency Council, 
which has since expanded to become the Valley Council for Health & 
Human Services. Jack also helped to spearhead the Valley's successful 
effort in the All-America City competition.
  In addition to his professional contributions, Jack is an active 
member of the community. His seemingly innumerable titles include Chair 
of the Electronic Valley project, President of the Board of Directors 
at the Derby Neck Library, member and past president of both the Derby/
Shelton Rotary Club and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, past President 
of the Board of Directors for the Derby Historical Society and former 
member of the board of directors for the Hallock's Landing Senior 
Housing Project. He served on the Valley Advisory Committee for the 
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, is a Corporator for Griffin 
Hospital and a member and past Co-chair of the Citizens Advisory 
Committee for the Yale/Griffin Prevention Resource Center. Jack is a 
member of the Board of Directors for the Online Journalism Project, the 
parent organization for the Valley Independent Sentinel as well as one 
of the founders and a committee member for the Commodore Hull 
Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race. Past Chair of Derby's Park & Recreation 
Commission, current Chair of the City's Greenway Committee, as well as 
co-Chair of the Naugatuck River Greenway Committee, his efforts have 
changed the very face of the Naugatuck Valley.
  Jack's incredible service has been recognized by many over the years 
with a myriad of awards and commendations. He is recipient of the 
Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce's Gold Seal Award, the Lewis 
Savitsky Staff Excellence Award, the Hazel Knapp Award for regional 
leadership as well as the Derby Historical Society's Dr. John I. Howe 
Award just to name a few. He was named to the Boys & Girls Club of the 
Lower Naugatuck Valley Alumni Association Hall of Fame and honored by 
the Lower Naugatuck Valley Bar Association with their Liberty Bell 
Award. The YMCA presented him with their Strong Community Builder Award 
and the Women and Heart Disease Committee at Griffin Hospital presented 
him with their ``Caring Heart'' Award.
  Tonight, marking his lifetime of service, Jack Walsh is presented 
with the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award--and I cannot think of a 
more deserving individual to recognize for their commitment, 
dedication, and extraordinary good work. I am honored to join the 
communities of the Naugatuck Valley in thanking Jack for his 
unparalleled public service--his is a legacy that will not soon be 
matched and most certainly will continue to inspire service in others 
for generations to come.

                          ____________________