[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1779]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. ARTHUR BENSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
memory of a great Western New Yorker; businessman, community leader, 
and friend, Mr. Art Benson of Springville, NY. Mr. Benson was 75 years 
old when he died of cancer on January 21, 2005.
  Art Benson was a man who held himself to the highest standard of 
excellence in service to his community and generosity in his personal 
life. He served as President of the U.S. Route 219 Association and the 
Springville Chamber of Commerce. In 1977, he was awarded the title 
``Citizen of the Year'' based on his demonstration of the difference 
one person can make in his community. In his private life he was 
committed to helping others battle alcoholism with Alcoholics 
Anonymous.
  Art's success came from his optimism, his passion for civic 
involvement, and his magnetic personality. He spent his youth working 
as a bellhop in Buffalo's Hotel Statler, befriending famous actors and 
politicians that came to stay. President Truman thought so highly of 
Art that he appointed him his personal aide during his 1948 
Presidential campaign.
  In his adult life, Art had a long and successful career in the auto 
sales business. He purchased a Ford dealership in 1965, which he sold 
in 1982 to become Emerling Ford and Mercury. Following the sale of his 
business, he worked as a sales representative for Towne Lincoln-Mercury 
in Orchard Park, NY.
  The success that Art's work ethic and affable nature led to in the 
private sector brought him even more success in the public sector. A 
strong believer in the economic benefits that expanding U.S. route 219 
would bring to western New York, politicians and development officials 
nicknamed Art, ``Mr. 219.'' He was the road's most influential 
advocate, making public statements on its expansion even in his final 
days.
  His leadership did not end with route 219. As president of the 
Springville Chamber of Commerce, he pressed for the creation of 
Springville's Pre-School Learning Center for the Handicapped. He was 
also a driving force behind the establishment of the Town of Concord 
Industrial Development Agency.
  As I noted earlier, perhaps some of Art's greatest contributions to 
his community were made in his private life. A former alcoholic, Art 
beat the disease 37 years ago and has been a friend and counselor to 
other recovering alcoholics ever since. According to his son, Michael, 
Art would do anything in his power to help alcoholics, even when it 
meant leaving home in the middle of the night to offer support.
  But the aspect of Art's life which made him most proud was his 
family. Art was the husband of the former Marie Chute, who passed away 
in 2000, and is survived by his sons Michael, Arthur, Robert, and 
Claytus, daughters Marie Pitello, Colleen Benson, and Kathleen Benson. 
Arthur also leaves behind his great prides and joy--his 16 
grandchildren.
  Citizens of Art Benson's caliber are hard to come by. Whether it was 
through the gifts he was born with or his personal struggles, he 
consistently found ways to give to his community. Many in western New 
York will miss his leadership, enthusiasm, and friendship. I was proud 
to call Art Benson my friend and I am pleased to honor his memory 
today.

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