[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6073]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING BOB CURRAN UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bob Curran, 
Columnist for the Buffalo News on the occasion of his retirement.
  Bob Curran was born in Boston to Irish immigrants. World War II 
interrupted his football career at Cornell University. Bob was a 
Sergeant with the 95th Infantry Division and fought in France, Belgium 
and into Germany. Gen. George Patton personally gave him the Silver 
Star. Bob also received 2 Purple Hearts, Bronze Star and Combat 
Infantryman's Badge. His wounds kept him from playing football when he 
returned to Cornell.
  Bob worked for Fawcett Publications in New York, becoming editor of 
Cavalier before resigning in 1961. He was director of college 
football's Gotham Bowl, head of sports publicity for NBC and syndicated 
columnist before moving to Buffalo in 1967.
  Bob has been a columnist for the Buffalo News for 32 years. His 
columns are famous for telling readers how to ``win friends and 
influence him,'' asking trivia questions and telling backward jokes.
  What has set Bob apart from other columnists has been his strong 
advocacy on behalf of veterans. He wrote about real heroes, the 
veterans in Western New York. As Chairman of the House Veterans' 
Benefits Subcommittee, I have greatly benefited from his insight and 
advice on veterans' issues.
  As everyone in Western New York is aware, Bob has been a vocal 
advocate of the designation of December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, as a 
national holiday. It was through Bob's passion, encouragement and 
support that he generated in the veteran's community, that persuaded me 
to submit legislation in the House of Representatives, H.R. 965, to 
designate Pearl Harbor Day as a federal holiday in the same manner as 
November 11, Veterans Day.
  I and the many members of the Western New York veteran's community 
look forward to Bob's continued support for veteran issues.
   Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the Curran family, the 
Buffalo News, our veterans and their families as well as the entire 
Western New York community in tribute to Mr. Bob Curran.
  With retirement comes many new opportunities. May Bob meet each new 
opportunity with the same enthusiasm and vigor in which he demonstrated 
throughout his brilliant career, and may those opportunities be as 
fruitful as those in his past.
  Thank you, Bob, for your advocacy, tireless effort and personal 
commitment to our community, and for your friendship.

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