[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Pages 27204-27205]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN FRANK McCLOSKEY

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of my fellow 
Hoosier, Congressman Frank McCloskey, who lost his battle with cancer 
on Sunday, November 2. Congressman McCloskey dedicated his life to 
serving his country and our home State of Indiana, setting an example 
of personal conviction and political courage throughout his years as a 
public servant.
  Francis Xavier McCloskey was born on June 12, 1939 in Philadelphia. 
He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at Indiana University 
in Bloomington, where he would later serve as mayor for three terms, 
following 4 years in the Air Force and a brief career as a newspaper 
reporter.

[[Page 27205]]

During his time as mayor, McCloskey transformed Bloomington politics 
with his new style of leadership. He initiated a transit service and 
the first direct passageway through the center of Bloomington, and 
oversaw the formation of city boards and commissions dedicated to the 
environment, women and human rights.
  In 1982, McCloskey was elected to the U.S. Congress from Indiana's 
8th district. In a district known across the Nation for its tumultuous 
and closely contested races, McCloskey held his seat to serve as 
Congressman for six terms. During his time in office, Frank McCloskey 
became one of the first public servants to travel overseas and witness 
first hand the atrocities taking place in Bosnia. A man of great 
compassion and conviction, Frank McCloskey focused his career on ending 
the ethnic cleansing taking place in Bosnia during the 1990s. His 
dedication to the cause continued even after he left public office, 
until cancer forced him to cancel his plans to return to Bosnia and 
continue democratic reforms there.
  The sense of loss to all those who knew Congressman Frank McCloskey 
is tremendous. His work in Bloomington and later in Washington inspired 
a generation of Hoosiers to answer the call to public service. Many of 
Indian's current political leaders owe their start to the example set 
by McCloskey, and their continued works will serve as a lasting legacy 
to a man who dedicated his life to serving others. He is survived by 
his wife, Roberta Ann Barker, and their two children, Helen and Mark.
  It is my honor to enter the name of Congressman Frank McCloskey into 
the Congressional Record.

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