[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING WILLIAM E. ``BILL'' McGONAGLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 2019

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of William E. 
``Bill'' McGonagle, in recognition of his wonderful service, for over 
forty years, on behalf of the City of Boston and the thousands of 
families who reside in public housing in our City.
  The son of Jeannette and Daniel McGonagle, Bill is the third of six 
children. A true son of South Boston, Bill spent his early childhood on 
Lennon Court in South Boston and the remainder of his childhood in the 
Mary Ellen McCormack housing development in South Boston (named after 
Speaker John McCormack's mother). Bill attended the Gate of Heaven 
Grammar School and High School prior to his graduation from South 
Boston High School.
  While Bill is a veteran, having enlisted in the Naval Reserves and 
attended University of Massachusetts at Boston, Bill has had the 
tremendous good fortune to be married to his wife Ellen for 47 years. 
They have been blessed with three children, Matthew, Mark and Alyson.
  Bill started his career at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) in 1981 
as a member of BHA's Department of Public Safety, where he worked to 
combat violence and drug abuse in public housing. His compassion and 
work ethic were quickly recognized by BHA Receiver Harry Spence and 
Bill was chosen to participate in a BHA-sponsored management training 
program, which included graduate-level management classes at the Boston 
University School of Social Work. Bill was quickly promoted from a 
public housing development manager to area director overseeing the 
management of BHA's thirty-seven elderly and disabled public housing 
developments throughout Boston addressing the needs of thousands of 
seniors and disabled citizens.
  Bill later served as executive assistant to then BHA Administrator 
Doris Bunte where he served as the liaison between the BHA and 
residents in the public housing developments in South Boston and 
Charlestown. Many resident leaders have noted that Bill had tremendous 
credibility and connected with many of the tenants because of his own 
upbringing in public housing. His compassion and understanding have 
earned him the deep and abiding respect of the residents of public 
housing as well as the many political leaders who shared the 
responsibility for meeting the needs of residents. While there were 
some rough patches in the history of the public housing developments 
across Boston, Bill McGonagle has been the bridge from those troubled 
times to today, when the revitalization of major housing developments 
is taking place all across Boston.
  Bill was appointed Deputy Administrator on April 1, 1992. He served 
in that role for 17 years for three administrators: David Cortiella, 
Joseph Feaster, and Sandra Henriquez.
  And on June 11, 2009, Mayor Thomas M. Menino made one of the best 
decisions in his long career and appointed Bill as Administrator for 
the Boston Housing Authority. And later, in his infinite wisdom, Mayor 
Martin J. Walsh asked Bill to continue in that capacity as part of his 
administration, much to the joy of public housing residents across the 
City.
  Since becoming Administrator, Bill has been the driving force in the 
revitalization of many of the housing developments throughout the city 
of Boston, including the Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony and the 
transformation of the Mary Ellen McCormack Development.
  Over the years, Bill has been recognized for his commitment, loyalty 
and dedication to the city of Boston and its public housing residents, 
receiving the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) President's 
Award, the J. Lincoln Durand Award from the Massachusetts Union of 
Public Housing Tenants and the John W. McCormack Public Service Award.
  Madam Speaker, while Bill is not a person of many hobbies, he is a 
rabid Celtics fan in the greatest Boston tradition. He prides himself 
on being a history buff and amazes all with his knowledge of American 
history. Over the last decade, Bill and Ellen have reveled in their 
favorite passion, spoiling their five grandchildren Maggie, Andrew, 
Lucy, Evelyn and Calvin.
  Alas, not one to go quietly into retirement, Bill, not only intends 
to spend time with his family, he recently earned a certificate in 
substance abuse counseling from UMass-Boston and he plans to work in 
substance recovery, continuing his dedication and commitment to serving 
others. Just take a moment and think about that one. Talk about a good 
guy.
  Madam Speaker, Bill leaves a legacy of tirelessly working for tenants 
and breaking down barriers. It is my distinct honor to take to the 
floor of the House today to join with the family and many friends and 
the thousands of families in public housing and advocates for 
affordable housing all across our Country who want to say thank you to 
William E. ``Bill'' McGonagle for his forty years of remarkable service 
to his community of South Boston and the public housing residents of 
Boston.

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