[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING THOMAS C. SWEENEY

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, the people of Kodiak, AK, will 
gather on Saturday, May 7, to celebrate the life of Thomas ``Tom'' 
Cornelius Sweeney. Tom passed away on March 29 at the age of 84.
  Tom was born on February 9, 1932, in Helena, MT. He first came to 
Kodiak as a member of the U.S. Navy, then returned to work construction 
and married Nancy Ann Norman. Nancy's family owned the gift and photo 
shop, Norman's.
  Tom first pursued a career in law enforcement, serving as a 
territorial policeman, detective, State trooper, and private 
investigator. That took Tom and Nancy to various cities in Alaska. 
Following the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and tsunami, they returned to 
Kodiak for good. Tom and Nancy helped Nancy's family restore Norman's 
following the disaster. Tom pursued his entrepreneurial interests in 
oil sales, automobile sales and service, and finally insurance 
brokerage before retiring in 1996--a well-rounded career.
  He was equally committed to the Kodiak community, serving as 
president of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, the Kodiak Rotary Club, 
and Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #18, which Tom helped reactivate in 1983. 
His statewide leadership roles included service as state commander of 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars and chairman of the Alaska Committee for 
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
  Tom leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, Nancy, two sons, 
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a large extended family. I join 
with the people of Kodiak in celebrating the life of this great Alaska 
pioneer.

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