[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          HONORING MAYOR PATRICK FUREY OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2022

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Patrick Furey 
for his outstanding service over the past 40 years to the citizens of 
Torrance, which is partially in the 43rd Congressional District of 
California. Last night, the City Council of Torrance honored Patrick 
Furey upon his retirement after 8 years as Mayor.
  Mr. Furey moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in 1973 after 
serving as a policeman in his hometown and as an infantry soldier in 
the United States Army. Always active in his community, while raising 
his family, Pat volunteered as a Boy Scout leader for more than 10 
years and served as a Little League umpire for more than 1,000 games. 
He was the President of the Northwest Torrance Homeowners Association 
and often served as a spokesperson for the coalition of Torrance 
homeowners associations concerning issues impacting the entire city. 
Prior to his election to the City Council in 2008, Patrick Furey served 
Torrance as a civil service commissioner and a member of the Mayor's 
Blue Ribbon Committee on Ethics and Integrity.
  When California was reapportioned after the 2010 Census and much of 
Torrance was added to my District, then Councilman Furey and his wife 
Terry were the first Torrance residents to invite me to their home. We 
developed a strong friendship and have partnered on many projects 
together. Trained as a lawyer, Pat retired after a full career as a 
Principal Deputy County Counsel assigned to the Children's Services 
Division before being seated as Mayor in 2014. He had also served as a 
Training and Advice Counsel to the Department of Children & Family 
Services in Torrance for more than 3 years.
  Pat Furey has always been concerned about young people. In addition 
to raising their own two children and nine grandchildren, Pat and Terry 
were founding members of the Torrance Education Foundation, and he 
served as its President for 4 terms. He was a member of every PTA in 
Torrance and a major supporter of public schools. He chaired the 
Torrance Unified School District's Personnel Commission and chaired the 
Community Planning and Design Committee.
  Mayor Furey was also a huge advocate for Torrance businesses, from 
grocery stores to high tech industries. Always responding to community 
requests, he was a major booster of the Torrance Armed Forces Day 
activities and spent much time assisting the city's non-profit 
organizations. He was a hard-working, dedicated and popular mayor, 
constantly focused on every aspect of his city's operations. The 
region's residents know they were fortunate to have Mr. and Mrs. Furey 
serving in City Hall. Now that Mayor Furey has been termed out of 
office, he will be continuing his public service by returning to the 
Torrance Education Foundation.
  I am proud to congratulate Pat Furey upon his retirement as Mayor and 
look forward to working with him on whatever his next endeavors may be.

                          ____________________