[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 25]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 33766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM GRISSO

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a news 
professional in my district who has served the people of northern 
Michigan with distinction. The Publisher of the Gaylord Herald Times, 
Jim Grisso, will retire at the end of this year after a 47-year career 
in the newspaper industry, 39 of them at the helm of the Gaylord Herald 
Times.
  As the publisher of the Gaylord Herald Times (the Times), Mr. Grisso 
has made the newspaper a leader in the industry, garnering nearly 500 
awards at the state and national levels since 1968. In 2007, the Herald 
Times was named the national Newspaper of the Year in its circulation 
class by the Suburban Newspapers of America, a testament to Mr. 
Grisso's vision and leadership of the paper.
  Under Mr. Grisso's leadership, the Herald Times has been a steadfast 
advocate of the public's right to know, on occasion resulting in 
challenges, even lawsuits, against public bodies that violated the Open 
Meetings Law or failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act. 
Mr. Grisso has always insisted that the newspaper represent the people 
of Otsego County and reflect the values of the residents of Gaylord: 
hard work, honesty, tenacity and telling it like it is.
  Mr. Grisso's leadership in northern Michigan extends beyond the 
Times. Mr. Grisso has held several leadership positions with 
professional associations: Past President, Michigan Press Association; 
Past President, Michigan Newspapers Industry and Michigan State 
Chairman, National Newspaper Association.
  Over the years, Mr. Grisso has also been a leader in the Gaylord 
community and used his position at the Times to promote community 
service within Gaylord. In 1980, Mr. Grisso established the 
Buergermeister Award, which the Herald Times annually presents to 
recognize an individual who epitomizes service and dedication to the 
community. The Buergermeister Award is considered the most prestigious 
award in Otsego County and, thanks to Mr. Grisso's leadership, it has 
been used to recognize and encourage community service throughout the 
county.
  Mr. Grisso's commitment to community does not end there. He has 
donated enormous space in the Gaylord Herald Times in the form of 
community announcements and in-kind advertising for charitable and 
nonprofit organizations. While the Gaylord Herald Times has certainly 
put plenty on his plate, he has donated generously of his personal time 
through work on many boards and organizations. He co-founded and was 
the first vice-president of Otsego County Big Brothers organization. He 
served as President of the Gaylord Rotary Club and the Gaylord High 
School Athletic Boosters Club. He served on the Boards of the Otsego 
Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of 
Commerce, Gaylord Little League, and Alpenfest. He continues to serve 
today as Otsego County Economic Alliance Executive Committee and is 
currently Vice President of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of 
Gaylord.
  Over the years, Mr. Grisso has been recognized with numerous awards 
for his participation in community and civic groups. The Gaylord/Otsego 
County Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Grisso with the ``You Made It 
Happen Award'' and the Otsego County United Way recognized his service 
with the ``Thanks To You, It Worked For All of Us.'' He has been named 
Otsego County Fair Association Citizen of the Year. Mr. Grisso has 
received the Founder's Award of Appreciation, presented by Alpenfest 
Committee as a founder and leader in building Gaylord as the Alpine 
Village. The Otsego County Emergency Medical Service honored him and 
five other Gaylord Rotarians for raising $15,000 to purchase 
defibrillators as a result of a 150-mile walk from Gaylord to 
Manistique in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
  Madam Speaker, I have a special relationship with Mr. Grisso. His 
paper has covered my work since I began serving Michigan's 1st 
Congressional District in 1992. As might be expected, I have not agreed 
with every word his paper has written or his angle on every story. 
However, without a doubt he has endeavored to ensure that the Gaylord 
Herald Times covers the issues important to the people of northern 
Michigan and informs and serves them with excellent local journalism. 
As the Publisher of the Times, he has ensured the Times covers the 
challenges facing Gaylord and Otsego County. As a leader in his 
community, he has helped develop solutions to those same challenges.
  Today, as he prepares to enter a well deserved retirement I offer 
him, his wife Sue, his four daughters, four step sons and eight 
grandchildren all the best for the future. I would ask, Madam Speaker, 
that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in 
thanking Jim Grisso for his service to the Gaylord community, 
commending him for his many years of exceptional work as a journalist 
and newspaperman and congratulating him on his many achievements.

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