[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 48 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E315-E316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ROBERT B. THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 18, 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a beloved member of 
the community who is celebrating a remarkable 95th birthday this year, 
Mr. Robert B. Thomas.
  Robert's story is, in many ways, a uniquely American one. He was born 
on March 14, 1924 to Robert and Annie Thomas in Augusta, Georgia and he 
migrated with his family to New York, where he attended Benjamin 
Franklin High School. He graduated from New York Vocational High 
School, where he was introduced to, and excelled in, the trade of 
plumbing. During World War II, Robert heeded the call to serve his 
country and on March 15, 1944 he joined the United States Army. He 
became a gunner in the 394th Anti-Aircraft Unit and after serving our 
nation, he came back to serve his city with the New York City Public 
Housing Authority. In 1946, Robert met the woman who he would marry, 
Doris E. Jones and they had two daughters, Symra and Sandra. He also 
has three grandchildren, Duane Nichols, Turhan Brandon and Taniya 
Brandon, and four great grandchildren, Indira Nichols, Sebastian 
Brandon, Orion Brandon and Dominick Brandon.
  Robert worked in construction as a member of Laborers International 
Union of North America, Laborers Local 60 and the International Union 
of Operating Engineers Local 137, the International Union of Operating 
Engineers Local 15 and Con Edison, which enabled him to put his 
daughters through college. He likes to reminisce about the past and 
enjoy talking about how he was a foreman and helped build the Governor 
Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge. His experience on that project later 
led to his work on the Throgs Neck Bridge and second deck of the George 
Washington Bridge.
  To his family, his friends, and his community, Robert Thomas is known 
as a kind, generous and loving person, who has helped others achieve 
their goals. It is my honor to recognize Robert on this special 
occasion and to

[[Page E316]]

thank him for his service to our country and community here in New 
York.

                          ____________________