[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THOMAS B. AHART, PHILIPSBURG, N.J., ON COMPLETION OF HIS 
  TERM AS PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF 
                                AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a fellow New Jersey 
resident and truly outstanding citizen, Thomas B. Ahart of Philipsburg, 
who is completing his highly successful term as President of the 
nation's largest insurance association--the Independent Insurance 
Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA)--later this month in New Orleans. 
Tom is president of Ahart, Frinzi & Smith, a Philipsburg, N.J.-based 
independent insurance agency.
  Tom's career as an independent insurance agent has been marked with 
outstanding contribution and relentless dedication to his clients, 
community, IIABA, the Independent Insurance Agents of New Jersey 
(IIANJ), and his independent agent colleagues across the country.
  He began his volunteer service with IIANJ where he served as 
president and chairman of the board. He also represented New Jersey as 
its representative to IIABA's National Board of State Directors. He was 
chairman of IIABA's Education Committee for four years before being 
elected to the Association's executive leadership panel.
  Outside IIABA, Tom has served as a member of the board of the New 
Jersey Joint Underwriting Authority and was president of the Eastern 
Agents Association. He has served as an advisor to the American 
Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the 
Insurance Institute of America, and was just appointed to their board.
  Tom was honored with several state and local awards. They include the 
1982 New Jersey Young Agent of the Year, the 1986 and 1987 New Jersey 
Executive Committee Chairman of the Year Awards, the 1993 New Jersey 
Insurance Person of the Year Award, and the 1994 IIA of Hunterdon/
Warren County Agent of the Year Award.
  Tom also has distinguished himself as an active and concerned member 
of his community. He was elected to serve on his local school board, 
served as a trustee at his church, and as a little league coach for 25 
years, and he's coached boy's wrestling, boy's baseball, girl's 
basketball and girl's softball.
  I laud Tom for his tireless leadership of the Independent Insurance 
Agents & Brokers of America and the many accomplishments benefiting all 
independent insurance agents and brokers realized during his tenure as 
President. I know that even though Tom will step aside as IIABA leader 
soon, he will remain involved with the Association because he is a 
concerned leader and wants to continue helping his colleagues build for 
a strong and secure future. Congratulations on a job well done, Tom!

                          ____________________