[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO DONNA SPEZIALE RICHARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2001

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to a longtime 
Syracuse journalist who passed away as a result of a sudden brain 
aneurysm while visiting family in Florida.
  For over 20 years, Donna Speziale Richards covered breaking news in 
Syracuse and Onondaga County as both a radio and television news 
reporter. Born in Syracuse, she was a graduate of Solvay High School 
and Onondaga Community College. She worked as a radio reporter for both 
WFBL-AM and WHEN-AM, where she also served as news director. She then 
went on to cover local stories for WTVH-TV5 as a television news 
reporter for eleven years.
  1988 she won an Emmy award as a member of a team of reporters 
covering the bombing of Pam Am Flight 103. During her tenure as a 
journalist, Donna's work was recognized by the Associated Press 
Broadcasters Association, the state Broadcasters Association, and the 
Syracuse Press Club.
  Most recently, Donna had left broadcasting to serve our community as 
a public relations specialist for the U.S. Small Business 
Administration office in Syracuse. Through her work in that position, 
she was known as an informative and helpful source for local media and 
business people and a committed federal employee.
  Donna leaves her husband, Donald; two stepsons, David and Paul 
Richards; her mother, Mary Speziale; and a brother, Skip Speziale. She 
was 43 years old.
  Throughout her career, Donna was not one to seek special recognition 
or the spotlight. With this honor, it is my hope that her local 
involvement and balanced work receives the attention that it deserves. 
Donna leaves a reputation for fair and accurate reporting that should 
serve as a lasting example for all young, local journalists who follow 
in her footsteps. She will be missed.

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