[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT AND DEDICATED SERVICE OF ALVIN ``AL'' 
                                  COBY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
retirement of Alvin ``Al'' Coby after 27 years of service to the City 
of Pensacola, Florida.
  Mr. Coby's service to our nation began in 1971 when he joined the few 
and the proud to become a United States Marine. Upon completion of the 
Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia, he reported to Naval Air 
Station Pensacola, Florida, where he began his flight training. Upon 
earning his wings, he was selected to fly the F-4 ``Phantom''. Mr. Coby 
served three tours as a Marine aviator in Vietnam, before returning to 
the ``Cradle of Aviation'' in 1978 to serve as a flight instructor. 
Under his leadership and expertise, many brave men and women were 
trained as pilots who went on to serve during the Cold War and in Iraq, 
Bosnia, Afghanistan, and across the globe.
  After eleven years of military service, Al Coby departed active duty. 
He then attended graduate school at the University of West Florida and 
joined the City of Pensacola in 1984 as Assistant City Manager. Mr. 
Coby has served the City of Pensacola in various capacities, including 
Community Redevelopment Director, Assistant City Manager and City 
Manager. During his tenure with the City, he also served as a member of 
two state appointed boards, as well as numerous local boards and 
committees. Currently, he is a member of the Sacred Heart Hospital 
Advisory Board, the Downtown Rotary, and the Boy Scouts of America Gulf 
Coast Council.
  In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated the panhandle of Florida, and Mr. 
Coby became an integral part of the recovery process. His tireless 
dedication to rebuilding homes and businesses in Pensacola is a true 
testament to his character. In 2010, with the Deepwater Horizon oil 
spill affecting residents and businesses in the Gulf Coast region, Mr. 
Coby organized a team of City employees to focus on recovery and long-
term development. He led the recovery team with distinction, and his 
hard work and dedication helped to ensure that the City of Pensacola 
was prepared to respond quickly and effectively to this unprecedented 
disaster.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate 
Mr. Coby on his retirement and thank him for his faithful and selfless 
service to this great Nation and to the Northwest Florida community. My 
wife Vicki and I wish him and his family all the best.

                          ____________________