[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO HELEN KENNEDY, 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                               YEAR--2004

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2004

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. 
During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the 
accomplishments made by our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my 
great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a 
difference in my district.
  I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 
29th Congressional District, Mrs. Helen Kennedy of San Gabriel. Mrs. 
Kennedy has been pivotal in the social and cultural vitality of our 
community and I wish to salute her efforts today.
  Helen and her husband, George Kennedy, first moved to San Gabriel in 
1942, where they raised their 2 children, Brian and Drake. Helen and 
George worked together in their family business, Kennedy Outdoor 
Advertising, and became actively involved in the community of San 
Gabriel. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy volunteered for the Boy Scouts of 
America, Little League, and were instrumental in the development of 
Vincent Lugo Park. Helen was the first PTA President of San Gabriel 
High School while George fund-raised for the purchase of lights for the 
high school's new football field. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy enjoyed 55 years 
of-marriage until his death in 1988.
  Helen Kennedy, often referred to as ``San Gabriel's Sweetheart,'' has 
an impressive and varied list of city, county and state 
accomplishments. Appointed to the San Gabriel City Council in 1963, she 
won election in 1964 and served on the council for 17 years, serving 2 
terms as mayor. She was a cofounder of the California Elected Women's 
Association for Education and Research, along with U.S. Senator Dianne 
Feinstein.
  The founder of the Friends of the Library, and Checkmates for Cancer 
at the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, she also volunteered for 
years at La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center. Helen currently 
serves on the boards of the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center 
Foundation and the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, Women's Division.
  An avid supporter of the arts, Helen spearheaded the successful fund-
raising campaign to restore the original doors of the San Gabriel Civic 
Auditorium, and obtained the theater organ for the auditorium. She was 
on the board of directors of the Music Theater of Southern California 
and served for 30 years on the Music and Performing Arts Commission of 
Los Angeles County.
  I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman 
of California's 29th Congressional District, Helen Kennedy. The entire 
community joins me in thanking Helen Kennedy for her continued efforts 
to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to 
live.

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