[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26696]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO HARRY T. PINCHBACK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 29, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Harry T. Pinchback for his 
long-time public service and commitment to the Brooklyn community.
  A descendant of P.B.S. Pinchback, the first African American to 
become a state governor, Harry T. Pinchback was born and raised in the 
Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. In his late teens, he 
moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. He and his wife Peggy 
have been married for 45 years, and they have a daughter Angela and a 
grandson named Paris.
  ``Pinch,'' as he is universally known throughout Brooklyn, graduated 
from Alexander Hamilton High School in Brooklyn and would later attend 
John Jay College of Criminal Justice for two years.
  Before entering public service, Pinch first pursued a career as a 
professional singer and then as a professional baseball player, where 
he played left field for the St. Louis Cardinal minor league 
organization.
  Back in Brooklyn, Pinch joined the New York City Police Department 
(NYPD) in 1967. He was the first supervisor of the summer youth program 
for the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn, which took children on recreational 
and educational field trips. He was also the first supervisor of the 
cadet program for the 75th Precinct, which was a training program for 
those who wanted to enter the police force. Pinch was also the first 
coordinator of the school crossing guard program for the 75th Precinct.
  Additionally, he risked his life on the force in several dangerous 
situations, working on the narcotics unit in Brooklyn and on undercover 
assignments throughout New York City.
  Pinch was also the first African-American selected to the NYPD 
softball team and one of the first African-Americans selected to the 
NYPD football team.
  After retiring from the NYPD in 1988, he returned to public service, 
working as a Special Assistant for Congressman Ed Towns, where he still 
continues to serve.
  Mr. Speaker, Harry T. Pinchback has had a long and distinguished 
career serving the people of Brooklyn, first as a police officer and 
then in the Office of Congressman Ed Towns. As such, he is more than 
worthy of receiving our recognition. I hope that all of my colleagues 
will join me in honoring this truly remarkable individual.

                          ____________________