[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13531]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF EUGENE ``GENE'' GISCOMBE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2016

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor to join The Village of 
Harlem and New York City in paying tribute to our beloved friend, 
Eugene Giscombe, known affectionately by many as ``Gene'' and the 
``Mayor of 125th Street,'' who made his transition to his Lord and 
Savior on Sunday, July 10, 2016. In 1982, he founded Giscombe Realty 
Group, LLC one of Harlem's leading commercial real estate management, 
consulting, leasing, development and brokerage firms. The company was a 
major player in the Harlem Renaissance that helped to reverse years of 
decline and turn the area into one of Manhattan's most popular places 
to live, work, play and raise a family.
  Gene Giscombe began his real estate career as a sales agent at Webb & 
Booker, rising to become head of sales and representing major banks, 
such as Manufacturers Hanover Corporation, and managing office 
buildings such as the C.A.V. Building at 55 West 125th Street, where 
former president Bill Clinton maintains an office. Inspired by his 
grandfather Lawrence Giscombe, a successful builder-owner in Harlem in 
the 1930s and 1940s, Eugene Giscombe became a beloved community leader 
as he grew his own company to serve a wide range of clients, including 
property owners, developers, financial institutions, not-for-profits, 
pension funds and government agencies looking to buy, lease or manage 
space in Harlem and New York City. Giscombe Realty Group's 
headquarters, for over 35 years, was located in one of Harlem's most 
iconic office buildings, the 12-story Lee Building at 1825 Park Avenue 
on East 125th Street, adjacent to the Metro North train station in East 
Harlem.
  Over the years, Giscombe Realty Group's acquisitions, developments, 
re-locations and management ventures on the legendary 125th Street 
corridor included Chase Manhattan Bank, Fourth Federal Savings and 
Loan, New York State Supreme Court, Bechtel Infrastructure, Beth Israel 
Medical Center, the Harlem Commonwealth Council, New York College of 
Podiatric Medicine, and The Jewish Theological Seminary, to name a few. 
Gene's associates nicknamed him the ``Mayor of 125th Street'', 
celebrating him for his many successful ventures including the biggest 
retail sale in Harlem's history--the sale of 16 retail buildings along 
West 125th and 126th Street Corridor on Frederick Douglass Boulevard 
for $50 million in 2007. He was also the recipient of the Business 
Person of the Year award from the Harlem Business Alliance, Inc. 
presented by Mr. Walter Edwards.
  Gene Giscombe was a former chairman of the 125th Street Business 
Improvement District, Community Board 10 and The Greater Harlem Real 
Estate Board. He was also a member of the Harlem YMCA Board of 
Directors/Property Management Committee where he oversaw all 
construction and renovation work at twenty-one New York YMCA branches 
and three summer camps. He served on the Board of Directors of City 
National Bank of New Jersey/New York, and was the vice chairman of the 
Greater Harlem Nursing Home and North General Hospital Board of 
Directors. In addition to his love for Harlem and real estate, Eugene 
Giscombe was a big-game hunter who hunted on five continents and 
traveled on over 17 African safaris. Always concerned about the 
responsibility of hunters, he became the first African-American 
president of the New York Tri-State Chapter of Safari Club 
International which is very involved in conservation projects. Gene's 
memory is survived by his wife Shirley and their children Lesley, Susan 
and Lasalve; and brothers Gary and Ronald Giscombe.
  Eugene ``Gene'' Giscombe left his indelible mark as a real estate 
magnate and developer, community leader, philanthropist, entrepreneur, 
family man and big-game hunter devoting his life to the betterment of 
all humankind, community, and country. I join my constituents and rest 
of the nation as we say goodbye and pay tribute to our beloved friend, 
The Mayor of 125th Street, Eugene ``Gene'' Giscombe, a true American 
hero.

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