[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF HARRY EMMET McKILLOP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of Harry 
Emmet McKillop of McKinney who passed away November 7 at the age of 92. 
Harry was a passionate family man, global humanitarian, a dedicated 
patriot, and a dear friend of mine.
  The child of Harry and Cecilia (nee D'Ozeville) McKillop, Harry was 
born January 2, 1922 in New York, New York. Harry served his country as 
a naval officer aboard the USS Phoenix in the South Pacific during 
World War II. A graduate of St. John's University with a degree in law, 
Harry worked throughout the world in the airline industry working his 
way up to the executive level with United Airlines, after which he 
serviced as Vice President for Braniff International and Vice President 
with Pan American Airways over a thirty year span. Hired in 1985 by 
Ross Perot, Harry headed the travel department for Electronic Data 
Systems before being appointed as President of Alliance International 
Airport--International Division by Ross Perot, Jr.
  In addition to a lifelong career in the aviation industry, Harry 
dedicated more than 40 years of unselfish service to Americans in need 
around the world--most notably by continuing the search for and return 
of missing POWs and MIAs in many countries including Vietnam, Laos, 
Cambodia, Iran, and Iraq. His tireless work included managing logistics 
for Ross Perot's trip of the wives of American POWs to Vietnam to 
provide supplies and relief to the POWs. For his devotion to 
humanitarianism and patriotic service, in 2007 President George W. Bush 
awarded Mr. McKillop with the Secretary of Defense Medal for 
Exceptional Public Service, one of the most prestigious awards given to 
a civilian by the Department of Defense.
  A man who loved history especially as it relates to his Irish roots, 
Ross Perot established The Harry McKillop Irish Spirit Award to honor 
the life of and work of his friend for his commitment to ``Irish 
Spirit'' in 2003. Among those to receive the award are Jean Kelly of 
Speedwell Trust, Rev. Bill Shaw of 174 Trust, and Richard Moore of 
Children in Crossfire. In honor of his work addressing the plight of 
POWs and MIAs from Vietnam and successive wars, as well as his support 
of Irish causes and business developments in Ireland, specifically 
Shannon Airport, The University of Limerick conferred an Honor Doctor 
of Economic Science on Mr. McKillop in early 2014.
  Harry was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, a former 
Grand Knight of the New World Council 9903 in McKinney, and a member of 
the 4th Degree Assembly 2266 in Plano. Children in the Fourth 
Congressional District attend the Harry McKillop Elementary School in 
Melissa, Texas. He has also been honored by the McKinney Fire 
Department as an Honorary Battalion Chief.
  Harry is survived by his wife of 27 years, Rebecca Sue, and their 
daughters, Mary (and husband Seth) and Tory, six children from his 
first marriage: Linda, Laurie, Jeff, Wayne (and wife Mary), Allison, 
and Tracey, as well as 22 grandchildren: Aaron, Andrew, Kittredge (and 
husband Jack), Kelly (and husband Ken), Finnian, Vivienne, Ryan, Tessa, 
Maxwell, Jane, Corey (and wife Samantha), Zachary, Lauren, Kerry, 
Elizabeth, Lara, Tara (and husband Shane), Nick, Ben, Daniel (and wife 
Samantha), Michael (and wife Hannah), and Emily, and 9 great-
grandchildren: Denver, Isabella, Sage, Sean, Maddox, Canyon, Noble, 
Leighton, and Olive, along with 17 nieces and nephews, and his 
siblings, Carol and Donald. He is preceded in death by his parents, his 
sister, Lucille, and his brother, Tom.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life 
of Harry Emmett McKillop and the positive impact he had upon his 
community and communities around the world. He was a man of faith, 
family, generosity, and selflessness and I believe we can all learn 
from his example.

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