[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16340]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 16340]]

                     CRESSY LEAVES A GREAT IMPRINT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, the University of 
Massachusetts Dartmouth is an extremely valuable institution. It is an 
excellent educational facility, and it is a great example of a public 
institution of higher education that not only seeks to provide a first 
rate education to its students, but cooperates indeed often takes a 
leadership role--in regional economic development.
  One of the reasons this University has been such a valued part of 
Southeastern Massachusetts in recent years is the leadership of its 
Chancellor, Peter Cressy. On behalf of my colleague from Massachusetts 
(Mr. McGovern) and myself, I want to insert here in the Record the 
editorial from the New Bedford Standard Times, on Wednesday, July 14, 
which pays a well deserved tribute to the high quality leadership Peter 
Cressy provided.
  In several areas of great importance to Southeastern Massachusetts 
economically, particularly including textiles and fishing, Peter Cressy 
has done everything possible to make sure that the University provided 
significant help to the broader community, while at the same time fully 
maintaining the educational mission that is the primary justification 
of a college.
  At a time when some question the value of publicly funded 
enterprises, Peter Cressy's leadership at the University of 
Massachusetts Dartmouth gave us an excellent example of how tax dollars 
can be put to excellent use for the broadest possible public benefit.
  My colleague (Mr. McGovern) and I will miss his leadership, his 
energy, and his enthusiasm at the head of this extremely important 
institution. And we ask that the editorial from the New Bedford 
Standard Times be printed here as one example of how excellent 
leadership can help us get the best of our public efforts.

                     Cressy Leaves a Great Imprint

       When Dr. Peter H. Cressy jumped from the Massachusetts 
     Maritime Academy in Bourne after two years to take over at 
     the helm of UMass Dartmouth, there were those who suggested 
     that this energetic and effective leader might not stay more 
     than two or three years. I wasn't his style.
       Dr. (former Rear Adm.) Cressy's career was marked by one 
     success after another, though his Navy days and then on his 
     own. He made his mark and moved on. He had turned Mass. 
     Maritime around when some thought that to be impossible; he 
     then plunged into his UMass Dartmouth job with energy and 
     enthusiasm that were rarely witnessed before. Sometimes 
     controversial but always self-assured and outgoing, Dr. 
     Cressy set about to remake the university and to multiply its 
     ties to the surrounding community.
       He stayed for six years, putting the university on the 
     national map, bringing it up to full membership in the UMass 
     system, vastly improving its fund raising, and as he said in 
     his unexpected resignation announcement on Monday, 
     established the marine science and technology program, 
     improved the budget process, improved admissions and 
     retention, increased research, added a Ph.D. program, 
     established centers for business and so on.
       Dr. Cressy's methods were not to everyone's taste; that is 
     not uncommon for a bright, visionary individual. But there is 
     no doubt that SouthCoast Massachusetts would be far behind 
     where it is today without his leadership and his initiatives. 
     We wish him the best in his new career in Washington, D.C., 
     as president and CEO of the Distilleries Council of the 
     United States, and we hope to see him follow through on his 
     promise to eventually retire to our part of the world. We 
     would be happy to put him back to work.

     

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