[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24169-24170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ON THE PASSING OF DR. JOHN LONG

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2005

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sorrow to mourn 
the loss of one of Pasco County's finest citizens and public servants, 
Dr. John Long. While on a hunting trip with his wife Marsha in Montana, 
John unexpectedly passed away from an apparent heart attack on October 
26. He was 59 years old.
  Born in Wauchula, Florida, John dedicated his life to serving the 
residents of Pasco County and improving the quality of education that 
its students received. His passion and reputation would lead him to 
serve as a state representative and eventually to be appointed as the 
County's Superintendent of Schools, a position he held until his 
retirement last year.
  John's career in public service began shortly after he completed his 
masters degree and doctorate in education at the University of South 
Florida. John seized the opportunity to work for the Pasco County 
School District and during heightened tension in the District in 1976, 
he was hired as the County's Director of Personnel. Known as a problem-
solver, John quickly garnered respect and trust from the teacher's 
union and ironed out their labor grievances. His ability to compromise 
and find the middle ground would follow him throughout his career.

[[Page 24170]]

  In 1986, John ran successfully for a seat in the Florida House of 
Representatives. He quickly rose to prominence within the Democratic 
Party and was poised to become the Speaker of the Florida House. 
However, another institution took precedence: his family. John retired 
from state politics to spend more time at home with Marsha and his two 
daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. Soon after stepping down, the late 
Governor Lawton Chiles appointed John as Pasco County Schools 
Superintendent in 1995.
  After winning a second term in 2000, John was named Florida's 
Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District 
School Superintendents, a distinction he greatly cherished. John also 
facilitated the enactment of the Penny for Pasco program in March 2004, 
which he considered one of his proudest accomplishments.
  Mr. Speaker, too often in this extremely partisan business, we lose 
sight of the things that really matter. John looked past party 
politics. He placed his family ahead of his promising political career. 
He was a breath of fresh air in an occupation that can suffocate 
integrity. I am truly saddened by the loss of John, and my thoughts and 
prayers are with the Long family. May God bless them as they remember 
this great man.

                          ____________________