[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 181 (Friday, December 6, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING ATHANASIOS ``TOMMY'' PAPPAS

  (Mrs. BEATTY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend, Tommy 
Pappas. Tommy's story is an American Dream. Born in a small village in 
Greece, he taught himself to cook as a child. For the last 35 years in 
Columbus, he owned and opened Tommy's Diner.
  Tommy's wasn't just a restaurant. It was a community hub. From 
neighbors, Governors, mayors, to construction workers and judges, 
everyone was welcome. If your photo made it to Tommy's wall, you had 
made it.
  Tommy didn't just celebrate the famous. He remembered every 
customer's name and treated everyone the same. Tommy's was one of my 
favorite places for breakfast. I held interviews there, and I even held 
my Presidential inauguration ticket lottery there.
  Tommy's Diner was featured on the Food Network show's ``Diners, 
Drive-ins, and Dives.'' His legacy will live on.
  Rest in peace, Tommy. I was lucky to call him my friend.

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