[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E973-E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF JOSEPH P. LEAHY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2019

  Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize my good friend Mr. Joe Leahy as he nears the end of his term 
as the 114th chairman of the nation's largest insurance association--
the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, also known as 
the Big ``I''. He was appointed chairman of the Big ``I'' in August

[[Page E974]]

2018, in my hometown of Springfield, MA, and over the past year has 
done a remarkable job of piloting the association. He has proven 
himself to be a strong and thoughtful leader for independent insurance 
agents across the country.
  Joe graduated from Western New England College and is cunently the 
President of Leahy & Brown Insurance & Realty, Inc., which he founded 
with his wife Frances in 1989. Joe has a fine record of public service 
as he previously served as Chief of Staff to Massachusetts State 
Senator Martin T. Reilly (D-Springfield).
  At the state association level, Leahy was elected to the Executive 
Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) 
in 2001, served as chairman in 2005, and was Massachusetts director on 
the Big ``I'' national board from 2008 to 2013. In 2013, Leahy received 
the MAIA Henry F. Barry, Jr. Memorial Pacesetter Award, which is 
awarded to an agent who has contributed his or her talent, time and 
energy for the betterment of the agency system and is the highest honor 
that the MAIA bestows.
  On the national association level, Joe has served on numerous Big 
``I'' committees and task forces including the Big ``I'' Executive 
Committee, Government Affairs Committee, Tax Task Force, and the 
InsurPac Board of Trustees.
  I would also like to recognize the aforementioned Frances Leahy, 
Joe's esteemed wife. Joe has been married to Frances for more than 30 
years. Together they reside in Northampton, Massachusetts and have six 
children and eight grandchildren.
  Once again, Madam Speaker, I am proud of Joe Leahy and all he has 
accomplished for Massachusetts and beyond. I wish him and Frances well 
in all their future endeavors, following his successful year as 
Chairman of the Big ``I.''

                          ____________________