[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING THOMAS P. FOY

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, last Saturday, Thomas P. Foy died at his 
home in Bayard, NM, a few weeks shy of his 97th birthday. A native of 
Grant County, he lived most of his outstanding life there, except for 
the years he spent as a prisoner of war in Japan including the Bataan 
Death March. It was a life largely devoted to public service and 
completely devoted to the public good.
  The word ``survivor'' is used rather freely these days, but he and 
his comrades, many of them fellow New Mexicans who managed to live 
through the horrors of years of internment, deserve the title if anyone 
does. But Tommy didn't just survive, he triumphed and prospered in a 
life well-lived.
  He had graduated from Notre Dame, and received a law degree from 
there a year before he joined the New Mexico National Guard in 1940. 
Assigned to the Philippines, the 200th Coast Artillery Battery 
surrendered after holding out for 5 months against the Japanese and 
began their gruesome forced march to prison. In 1945, the war was ended 
and he was rescued.
  His postwar life was full of accomplishment and service. Practicing 
law, marrying, running for--and winning--public office, founding a bank 
and raising five children with his wife Joan, and doing it all with a 
stout, cheerful heart brought him admiration and affection from all 
quarters. He served in the New Mexico State Legislature for 28 years.
  For many of us from Grant County, this is the loss of a beloved 
family member. My parents, now deceased, and my wife Anne and I 
certainly share that view. A stalwart figure, he was true to his faith, 
his family, our country and Notre Dame, and deeply loved and respected 
in return. He is already greatly missed.

                          ____________________