[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF JOHN HART CLINTON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 18, 2023

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Hart Clinton, Jr. 
who passed away on March 29th at the age of 78. Mr. Clinton was an 
integral part of the San Mateo County community through his work as 
Publisher of the San Mateo Times and his service on the San Mateo 
County Historical Association.
  John's life was a testament to his family's legacy of civic 
engagement and passion for San Mateo County. He studied at the 
University of Oregon and returned home to help run the San Mateo Times, 
which his mother's family, the Amphletts founded in 1889. His father, 
J. Hart Clinton was a partner at Morrison, Foerster, Holloway, Clinton 
and Clark in San Francisco, and he was appointed to lead the San Mateo 
Times in 1943.
  In the late 1960s, John met his wife Nina, and they had three 
children: Allison Rak, John Clinton, and Nicole Medina. His family 
describes him as loving, caring, and kind. Throughout his career, John 
always came home for dinner, and he loved spending time outdoors with 
his kids, pitching to his daughter Nicole or fishing with John. He 
supported his family's passions by learning about their fields of 
interest and being present at important events. John loved to make his 
family happy by dressing up in costume for parties and impressing 
guests with his sleight of hand.
  At the San Mateo Times, John developed an effective working 
relationship with the newspaper's staff who speak of his work ethic and 
willingness to go to bat for others. Former Managing Editor Michelle 
Carter credits John as one of the primary reasons she was promoted to 
lead the newspaper, thanks to his support of her candidacy with his 
father, J. Hart Clinton.
  John took on the role of Publisher in 1987, and he was the steward of 
the San Mateo Times through in-depth coverage of events such as the 
Loma Prieta Earthquake, several presidential elections, and the end of 
the Cold War.
  John Clinton loved his community's heritage and served on the board 
of the San Mateo County Historical Association. He led the 
transformation of the Old County Courthouse into the new home of the 
History Museum. Mitch Postel, President and CEO of the Historical 
Association cites John as integral to the Historical Association's 
mission, with the following words:

       ``Telling the story of the current Peninsula was only an 
     ability you had if you knew the past. He realized that and he 
     knew that his family had created an institution in San Mateo 
     County that was very important to the local people,'' Postel 
     said. ``He wasn't into the local history thing just because 
     he wanted to be on a board. He was into it because he 
     believed in its importance and knew that his family was a 
     part of that.''

  John also volunteered with the nonprofits Caminar and the Peninsula 
Community Foundation, in addition to co-founding the United American 
Bank. He will be remembered as a deeply faith-filled man who helped the 
homeless, the incarcerated, and other underserved residents, always 
with an eye to how our systems could better help those in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring the life of an extraordinary and humble man, John Hall 
Clinton, Jr. San Mateo County is better and stronger, and our Nation is 
greater because of John and his superb work.

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