[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H18-H19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF RANDY POTTER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Tenney) for 5 minutes.
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, in life there are names that once spoken
give rise to great emotion. The name ``Randy Potter'' is one of those
names in our community.
Today, I recognize the life of one of Upstate New York's most
colorful and original characters, Randy Potter. Simply mentioning
Randy's name puts smiles on the faces of all who knew him. Seeing his
crazy hair and fun attire always covered in campaign slogans and
buttons put a smile on the faces of people who didn't know him.
Randy was a music aficionado and a diehard Grateful Dead fan who
attended hundreds of concerts, and he will always be fondly remembered
for his love of music. He also enjoyed sports, and it didn't matter
which team was playing; as long as it was a New York team, Randy was
always their biggest fan.
Perhaps most importantly to Randy, he was someone who cared a lot
about our community and about politics and the importance of
government, and our community depended on him to get the message out.
Sadly, Mr. Potter passed away quietly on the evening of December 23.
A treasure trove of stories, jokes, and the smiles of many, many
residents across
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Upstate and Central New York will be remembered by our loss of Randy
Potter. Today, we remember his life and the many moments of joy he
shared throughout our community. May we all learn a lesson from his
life and zest for sparking joy and laughter in those around him.
Recognizing the Life of Joe Fusco, Jr.
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tragic passing
of one of my district's great public servants, the Honorable Joseph
Fusco, Jr., the former mayor of Rome, New York.
Mayor Fusco was a dedicated public servant, who led an incredible
life. He first served as Rome City councilman and then as the 42nd
mayor of Rome from 2011 to 2015, a job he performed with integrity,
passion, and determination.
Joe led by example. He was always a smiling face and a helping hand.
He oversaw the completion of the Mohawk River Trail, and in what little
spare time he had, would participate in volunteer work across the
community. He also hosted a terrific charity motorcycle ride across our
beautiful region, an event I always looked forward to participating in
each year. His dedication to public service carries on through his son,
Joseph, III, who became a Rome firefighter in 2007.
I have no doubt that Rome, New York, is a better place because of the
legacy of Mayor Fusco and the legacy that he leaves behind. I also
extend my deepest condolences to Mayor Fusco's family, as they are
grieving deeply at this time. This includes his beloved wife and dear
friend, Laurie, his son, Joe, and many grandchildren. He will be
greatly missed by many. Again, his legacy will not be forgotten.
Recognizing Priscilla ``Peep'' Williams for her Athletic and Academic
Achievements
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Priscilla,
also known as Peep, Williams, a standout athlete and student from New
York's 22nd District.
As an 8th grader in 2017, Peep was named to the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes Lacrosse Girls National Middle School Team. From
there, the honors just keep pouring in.
As a freshman in the spring of 2019, Peep stormed into the Seton
Academy lacrosse scene, breaking the school's individual scoring record
that was previously held by Seton's first Naval Academy appointee, who
also happened to be her big sister, Maddie, who I had the distinguished
honor of recommending an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Peep is a 2021 USA Lacrosse Academic All-American and a member of the
U-18 National Team. In this year's off season, Peep also won the New
York State Sectional Tennis Championship. Ms. Williams recently signed
her letter of intent to travel nearly 3,000 miles from home where she
will play for an institution with a standard of excellence in both
athletics and academics, the Stanford Cardinals.
Please join me in congratulating Peep and wishing her all the best in
her future endeavors and know she will continue to represent our
community with grace and determination. I wish the best to her parents,
wonderful members of our community as well.
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