[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN C. FLETCHER, THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS 
                 PAUL ``HOOK'' O'MALLEY MAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2022

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, today I honor John C. Fletcher, who 
will be named the Man of the Year by the Ancient Order of Hibernians 
Paul ``Hook'' O'Malley Division 4 at their annual gathering on March 1, 
2022.
  John, the son of the late Elizabeth Charles and Bill E. Fletcher, was 
born on April 2, 1955 in Niagara Falls, New York. He, along with his 
three siblings, Bob, Linda, and Beth, attended Niagara Falls schools. 
In 1972, Bill moved his family to Scranton where he opened Fletcher's 
Hilltop Garage on Jackson Street. John graduated from Scranton High 
School as a member of the Class of 1972, and in 1973, he enlisted in 
the Army, earning the rank of specialist E4.
  Following an honorable discharge from the Army in 1977, John enrolled 
at Lackawanna Junior College and earned an associate degree in business 
management. He put his degree to work by helping his father run the 
family gas station. John was then offered a position at Tobyhanna Army 
Depot where he was employed for 11 years.
  With retirement on the horizon for his father, John resigned from 
Tobyhanna Army Depot to return to the family business in 1989. He kept 
the family business running with his brother, Bob, and, this year, the 
garage will celebrate its 50th anniversary of servicing vehicles in 
West Scranton.
  John has always been an active member of his community, generously 
lending his time and talents to many organizations to support their 
mission. He is a former parishioner of St. David's Church and currently 
attends St. Patrick's Church in West Scranton where he is also a member 
of the Holy Name Society. He has been a longtime supporter of youth 
sports, volunteering his time to Little League baseball and the Trips 
Park Miss E League. John is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles 
and a 30-year member of the Scranton Pool League. John has also served 
three decades as a judge of elections. Seeking to connect with his 
Irish heritage, he joined with his fellow Irish American Scrantonians 
to charter the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul ``Hook'' O'Malley 
Division 4. Throughout the history of the Division, he has held many 
offices and is the current Shillelagh Man of the Year. His brothers in 
the Division recognize him as a dedicated and beloved member who would 
do anything for his fellow members or community at large.
  John is the proud father of five children, Nina, Jonathan, Matt, 
Megan, and Ryan. He is known for being a loving father, a loyal friend, 
and for caring deeply about his fellow citizens.
  I am honored to join with the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul 
``Hook'' O'Malley Division 4 in recognizing John as the Man of the 
Year. Selfless and hard-working Americans like John make our region a 
better place to live and work, and I am grateful for his service to his 
country and his community.

                          ____________________