[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING BROTHER JAMES GAFFNEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brother James 
Gaffney who, after 28 years, will retire from his storied career as 
president of Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois.
  Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, Brother Gaffney attended 
St. Mel High School. While at St. Mel, he became involved in outreach 
and youth service programs with the De La Salle Christian Brothers. It 
was at this time that Brother Gaffney heard his calling to become a 
brother and elected to attend seminary at St. Mary's University in 
Minnesota.
  Brother Gaffney went on to receive his BA from St. Mary's University 
and several master's degrees from both St. Mary's and Manhattan College 
in New York. He also holds a doctorate in pastoral theology from the 
University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois.
  Brother Gaffney's teaching career started at the Christian Brothers 
High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. He also served for 11 years at the 
provincial for the De La Salle Christian Brothers in the Chicago 
district.
  Brother Gaffney was chosen to be president of Lewis University in 
1988. Under his leadership, the school's student body nearly tripled in 
size, dozens of new programs were added, and several new educational 
sites were built around the Chicago area and the Nation, including one 
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He guided the university to nationwide 
recognition and influenced students around the world.
  In 2015, Lewis University honored Brother Gaffney by naming him an 
honorary founder of the university because of the tremendous 
contributions he made to the school's growth.
  In addition to his service to the school, Brother Gaffney is active 
in numerous other organizations. He chairs the Community Foundation of 
Will County, as well as the Lasallian Association of College and 
University Presidents. He is a member and former chair of the 
Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, and a 
board member and former chair of the South Metropolitan Regional Higher 
Education Consortium and the Great Lakes Valley Athletic Conference.
  Brother Gaffney has also been the recipient of countless awards in 
connection with Lewis University. Most recently, he was awarded with 
the Brother John Johnston FSC Award, which honors those dedicated to 
the Lasallian mission of providing education to all youth, as well as 
the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rainbow Council Boy Scouts of 
America.
  I have had a number of opportunities to spend time with Brother 
Gaffney since Lewis University was added to my district in 2013. I have 
always been impressed by his strong commitment to the university and 
its Catholic and Lasallian mission. It is obvious in his interactions 
with students, faculty, staff, trustees, and everyone who is a part of 
Lewis University. He knows his flock and they know him, and the respect 
and love between them is mutual. There could not be a higher dedication 
that anyone has as an educator and as a Catholic Brother.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Brother James 
Gaffney for all he has done in his 28 years as president of Lewis 
University, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Lewis University 
and its students have greatly benefited from his long tenure leading 
the school, and we all look forward to his continued service.

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