[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6869-H6870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALUTING EDWARD J. ``DOC'' McGANN
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New
York (Mr. D'Esposito) for 5 minutes.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to salute a good
friend, a gentleman with one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. Doc
McGann was a piece of the very community that I grew up in back home on
Long Island in a small village called Island Park.
Back home in Island Park, one of the beacons of our community is our
local firehouse, and Doc McGann served that fire department for 72
years. He served as chief of our department from 1963 to 1964 and had
the opportunity to serve every rank in that department. Even in his
elder years, he was a calm voice, someone who gave the younger members
advice on how to serve their community.
He was active in our Church of Sacred Heart.
He was the executive leader of the Island Park, Lido, Point Lookout
Republican Committee. In that capacity, in 1980, he was one of the
architects that sent an unknown guy from a small village of 6,000
people by the name of Alfonse D'Amato to the United States Senate.
Mr. Speaker, 42 years later, he helped send another guy from a
village of 6,000 to the United States House of Representatives, that
being me.
He was married to his lovely wife, Gerri, for 66 years. He leaves
behind four children: Danny, Kevin, Kerrie, and Jackie. He is the proud
grandfather and great-grandfather of beautiful children.
Today, I salute Doc McGann. When he died just less than a month ago,
a piece of Island Park died with him.
Recognizing Brian Sullivan on His Retirement
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Brian
Sullivan, the president of the Nassau County Correction Officers
Benevolent Association.
After a long and storied career in the Nassau County Sheriff's
Department, Mr. Sullivan has retired, leaving behind a legacy of
excellence.
Brian Sullivan was appointed as a correction officer in Nassau County
in 1988, marking the beginning of over 35 years of service. Brian
Sullivan worked his way through the ranks of the department, ultimately
achieving the rank of captain in 2022.
Throughout his time in corrections, Brian Sullivan served in a
multitude of positions, including the Behavioral Management Unit, which
comprised some of the most dangerous inmates in custody in our county.
In addition to safeguarding the public from violent offenders, Brian
demonstrated his leadership among colleagues and was elected in 2002 to
serve as a delegate of his union. As he did in his uniformed career,
Brian rose through the ranks of the union, having been elected first as
a delegate, twice as the union's first vice president, and then twice
as president of the organization.
In his tenure as union leader, he was wildly successful and managed
to help pass several laws at the State level to protect pensions and
death benefits for Nassau County corrections officers.
Brian's work both safeguarding the people of Nassau County and
advocating for his brother and sister correction officers is worthy of
great praise. I am honored to recognize the incredible career of my
Nassau neighbor and friend.
Mr. Speaker, I wish Brian Sullivan the best in this next chapter, and
I know he will continue being a selfless community servant wherever
life takes him. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.
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