[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING JOHN M. McCANN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate John M. McCann of 
Chicago on receiving the Dr. Robert Hamilton Special Service Award in 
recognition of his years of excellence and dedication to the DePaul 
University Athletic Department.
  John McCann is being honored for his years of service to DePaul 
University as sports information director. From 1958 to 1973, John was 
the man responsible for the promotion of DePaul athletics, years that 
produced some of the most exciting times in Blue Demons history.
  A lifelong Chicagoan, John was raised on the city's west side, 
attending St. Philip's School. During World War II, John was in the 
U.S. Navy, stationed on the USS Case. Upon his return from the war, 
John enrolled at DePaul University, beginning a relationship that would 
last a lifetime.
  After graduating from DePaul in 1950, John began his career in 
education, first working as a teacher at DePaul Academy. He later 
joined the ranks of teachers and administrators in the Chicago public 
schools, eventually becoming the principal of Lakeview's Louis J. 
Agassiz Elementary School, a position he retired from in 1984.
  But John's true passion was always with DePaul athletics. As sports 
information director, John oversaw the publicity and media coverage of 
dominant years in Blue Demons basketball, including the great teams of 
the 1960s that starred Howie Carl and Billy Haig. John was an integral 
part of the DePaul basketball family that was led by the legendary 
Coach Ray Meyer and his longtime assistant, the late Frank McGrath.
  To John and his wife, Cay, family has always been a priority. Their 
son Kevin has followed in his footsteps as an educator, rising to his 
current position as principal of Jamieson School in Lincoln Park. John 
is most proud, though, that Kevin and his two siblings, Mary and John, 
all attended his beloved alma mater, DePaul.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with the people of Chicago and the members of the 
DePaul family in recognizing the great honor being bestowed upon John 
McCann and wish him continued happiness in the future.

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