[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PAUL J. KOESSLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2008

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Paul J. Koessler, a tireless civic leader, generous philanthropist, 
and devout Western New Yorker. Paul's service and commitment to Buffalo 
has left a long enduring impact on our community, and he will be sorely 
missed.
   A Harvard Business School graduate and successful businessman, Paul 
never forgot his roots and always remembered the importance of giving 
back to the community he called home. In 1980, Paul joined his brother, 
John W. ``Jack'' Jr., CEO of Greater Buffalo Press, to serve as company 
president and COO of the largest printer of Sunday comics in the world 
and a leader in advertising insert printing. Greater Buffalo Press has 
seven plants in the United States as well as one in Canada, and, at one 
point, had 2,100 employees. In 1989 Paul moved to Nashville to serve as 
vice chairman of Sullivan Graphics, only to return to Buffalo in the 
1990's. With Paul's increasing success in business, he gave back to his 
community. In 2006, his philanthropic foundation gave 40 grants worth 
close to $300,000 to Western New York charities, churches, and schools, 
and he led a $20 million dollar fundraising campaign for Canisius High 
School, where he graduated from in 1955.
   Paul also served on the boards of the Buffalo & Erie County 
Historical Society, Buffalo Venture, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, 
Contract Staffing, Dunn Tire Corp, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research 
Institute, Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Sisters Hospital 
Foundation, WNED, and Canisius High School. Paul was also chairman of 
the board of trustees at Canisius College and received the school's 
Board of Regents Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award for his 
significant contributions to the Western New York community.
   Paul's role as chairman of the Peace Bridge Authority was a recent 
testament to his great leadership in Buffalo. Three governors, both 
Republican and Democratic, have named Paul to the Peace Bridge 
Authority over the years. Paul's respectful manner, integrity, genuine 
character, and tenacious spirit made him a great champion for progress 
in Buffalo. Paul Koessler was widely respected because he was always 
respectful--to anyone and everyone he came in contact with. Paul was a 
strong and effective advocate for groundbreaking projects important to 
Western New York and will be especially missed as a leader and a 
partner in the effort to construct a new Peace Bridge.
   Madam Speaker, Paul Koessler was a dedicated leader and beloved man 
who cherished his community. His legacy in Western New York is 
invaluable and enduring. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, 
Niscah, and children, Susan, Joanne, Lana, Gretchen, Joe, Eric, 
Kimberly, Robert, Theodore, and Brian. I thank you for joining me in 
expressing to the Koessler family the deepest condolences of the House 
for their loss.

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