[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 145 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JOSEPH TRENT SIFF

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LLOYD DOGGETT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 8, 2023

  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, today, it is with a heavy but grateful 
heart that I rise in honor of the late Joseph ``Joe'' Trent Siff, who 
was a dedicated, principled political activist with more than 50 years 
of support and work for local, state, and national leaders. His 
involvement began in 1968 and lasted through his local precinct work in 
Houston and his volunteer work for Rep. Lizzie Fletcher in 2022.
  Joe was born on November 16, 1947, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Alvin 
Stanley and Iris Gene Siff. The Siff family moved from Akron to 
Houston, Texas, when Joe and his twin brother Ted were 6 months old.
  From the beginning, Joe and Ted were each other's biggest supporters 
and good-natured competitors--even running against 1 another for 
president of their sixth-grade class, but losing to a third candidate.
  With an impressive list of accomplishments as a child and young 
adult, Joe was an Eagle Scout as well as a proud member of the first 
class to attend all 4 years at Memorial High. He was also a multi-year 
class officer and champion orator and debater. Joe excelled at almost 
everything he did.
  As a huge Houston Colt 45's/Astros fan, Joe worked for many years as 
a press box runner and assisted sports writers, announcers, and 
scoreboard keepers during home games. Always 1 to pay it forward, he 
helped several fellow members of the Memorial High speech and drama 
teams get summer jobs as tour guides and ushers.
  After completing his freshman year at Lafayette College, Joe finished 
college at Rice University, studying architecture. In 1968, he was part 
of the campaign team to elect John Hill as Governor of Texas.
  In 1970, Joe was elected president of the Associate Student Chapters 
of the American Institute of Architecture (AIA), where he served on the 
national board and testified before Congress. Two years later, Joe 
would return to help John Hill become the Texas Attorney General while 
also taking part in the campaign for Sissy Farenthold for Governor. He 
also served on the advance team for Sargent Shriver's Vice-Presidential 
campaign.
  Campaign work inspired Joe and eventually resulted in him becoming an 
assistant to Boston Mayor Kevin White. Before Joe's health problems 
arose, he would also serve as a precinct election worker. He was a 
loyal member of the Texas Democratic Party. His advocacy, like his 
concern for others, knew no boundaries; his passion knew no limits.
  At the completion of his work for Mayor White, Joe returned to 
Houston where he started his career as a financial advisor. He quickly 
became a senior vice president at Prudential Bache Securities and then 
at Lehman Brothers.
  In the early 1980s, Joe married Bonnie Hickerson. This marriage was 
blessed with the births of Iris Trent Siff and then Jordan Benjamin 
Siff.
  Joe's personality was infectious. He maintained relationships, 
fostered friendships, and often tried to help friends achieve their 
goals. It was a natural transition in the 1990's when he created his 
firm, Access Strategies, to connect people and their ideas to the 
capital and other resources they needed. This talent, matched with his 
wide-ranging network, resulted in projects involving real estate, art, 
book and live performance productions, and so much more. His multi-
decade representation of artist David Adickes is I example of his many 
skills.
  A great storyteller with an unceasing curiosity about the world 
around him, Joe loved his family, conversations, politics, architecture 
and design, and travel. He was a kind and supportive father, brother, 
and friend, including mine for many decades.
  On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, our world lost a bright soul, who was 
committed to making it a better place for everyone. Joe was 75 years 
old, and is survived by his 2 children, Iris and Jordan, and their 
mother, Bonnie; his twin brother Ted Siff (Janelle Buchanan) of Austin, 
Texas, as well as nieces and numerous cousins.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I am pleased to honor the life and legacy of 
Joe Siff, and I am grateful to share his story with the rest of our 
Nation. I cherish our memories while admiring his significant, personal 
contributions.
  He worked tirelessly to make our state and the world a better place. 
May he Rest in Peace.

                          ____________________