[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11657-11658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING GENE AND MARY McCARTHY ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me a tremendous sense of pleasure 
the recognize the personal accomplishments and the long career of two 
of Western New York's finest citizens, a couple I am proud to call my 
friends Mary Dories and William Eugene ``Gene'' McCarthy.
  Mary and Gene McCarthy are lifelong--and tremendously proud--
residents, of the Old First Ward in South Buffalo, New York. Mary grew 
up on Sidway Street and Gene grew up a few streets away on Kentucky 
Street.
  Mary and Gene were married on May 7, 1955 and resided on Hamburg 
Street before moving to 271 Katherine Street where they live today. 
They raised their three children, Patty, Billy and Maureen in this home 
in the Old First Ward Neighborhood.
  This neighborhood holds great significance in my Congressional 
District because it has long been recognized for the Irish legacy 
instilled upon the area during the city's formative years. Irish 
immigrants who worked on the construction of the Erie Canal made their 
home here. They went on to work in the shipping industry, as scoopers, 
railroad operators, and factory workers to name a few.
  Gene McCarthy followed in this tradition working for several years in 
Buffalo's grain mills, ending his industry career at Pillsbury Flour 
Mill to pursue a business venture of his own.
  Gene and Mary opened the doors to McCarthy's Tavern on July 20, 1964 
at 73 Hamburg Street. McCarthy's Tavern, a classic neighborhood Irish 
Pub that has become a First Ward Landmark and a favorite spot for grain 
workers, firefighters, police officers, politicians, lawyers and First 
Ward regulars alike.
  Hard work, long hours, true friendships and constant generosity were 
the hallmarks of Gene and Mary McCarthy's life in the Tavern Business.
  Mr. Speaker, It is my distinct honor to recognize Gene and Mary 
McCarthy on the occasion of their well deserved retirement from the 
tavern business after 42 years of service. The wonderful memories, 
stories, and good times shared by those who routinely came in for the 
welcoming atmosphere that McCarthy's Tavern offered will be present in 
the minds and hearts of many Western New Yorkers for years to come.

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