[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 46 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN GILLIGAN, GREATER PITTSTON FRIENDLY SONS' MAN OF 
                                THE YEAR

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2018

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Gilligan, 
who will receive the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons' ``Man of the 
Year'' Award. Mr. Gilligan will be honored on March 17, 2018, during 
the Friendly Sons' annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration.
  John was born in Wyoming, Pennsylvania to Bernard J. and Rosari 
Gilligan. He is a graduate of Wyoming High School. He enlisted in the 
Air Force after graduation, serving one year in Da Nang, Vietnam. After 
four years in the Air Force, John joined the Wyoming Borough Police 
Department. He served on the force for thirty-two years and retired in 
2004 as Chief of Police. He worked in the private sector until his 
appointment by Governor Edward Rendell to the post of Luzerne County 
Sheriff. His appointment was unanimously approved by the Pennsylvania 
Senate.
  Gilligan is a Fourth Degree Knight of the John F. Kennedy Council No. 
372 Knights of Columbus and a past Grand Knight of the Wyoming Area 
Council No. 8598. He is a past president of the Greater Pittston 
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
  John has been married to Karen Zofcin Gilligan for thirty-two years, 
and they are the proud parents of seven children. They also have 
eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Gilligan's three 
sons, grandsons, and great-grandson are members of the Greater Pittston 
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, a long-standing family tradition.
  It is an honor to recognize John Gilligan as he accepts the Greater 
Pittston Friendly Sons' ``Man of the Year'' Award. I am grateful to him 
for his service to our country and for protecting the people of Wyoming 
Borough and Luzerne County. I wish him all the best this St. Patrick's 
Day.

                          ____________________