November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2315 

through the years, and I have appreciated 

having someone who knows the many people 

who have been important to us throughout my 

career. Martha’s unsurpassed character and 

dedication have allowed me to trust her with 

confidential and sensitive materials and to do 

so with great confidence. 

Martha’s spirit is demonstrated by her commitment to family as well. She cares for her 

father at home and is a wonderful aunt to her 

many nieces and nephews. I know she is 

looking forward to spending even more time 

with her large family as she begins a new 

chapter in her life. 

While our work together will soon end, Martha will always remain an important person in 

our lives. As she looks to new opportunities, I 

wish Martha all the best, and look forward to 

her continued friendship in the years to come. 

f 

THE LOSS OF LES HIRSCH 

HON. KATHY CASTOR OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Ms. CASTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to honor the death of Les Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch 

made an indelible mark on my community in 

Tampa Bay. 

Over the 50 year period that Mr. Hirsch 

lived in Tampa, he took on a few different 

roles. In 1960 he became a stockbroker. Many 

of the brokers still practicing in my community 

got their start when Mr. Hirsch hired them. 

Former employees describe him as ‘‘upbeat, 

with a very sharp mind’’ and ‘‘a mentor, inspiration and a role model.’’ And through his love 

of politics, he inspired one of them to seek 

public office. Mr. Hirsch helped on his successful campaign for City Council in 1991. 

In the late 1970s, Mr. Hirsch was appointed 

to the Tampa Port Authority and then to the 

Tampa Sports Authority. When Tampa hosted 

its first Super Bowl in 1984, Mr. Hirsch contributed to the effort to secure our city as the location. As we ready our city to welcome Super 

Bowl fans again this season, I regret that we 

won’t have his expertise this time around. 

Madam Speaker, Mr. Hirsch’s death on October 31st marked a great loss to his wife 

Gail, his sons, Rabbi David Hirsch and his 

wife, Margot, and Andrew Hirsch and his wife, 

Tricia, his daughter, Beth Hirsch, and his six 

grandchildren, as well as the entire Tampa 

Bay area. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO THE EXEMPLARY 

HISTORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION 

IN THE TOWN OF KILLINGLY, 

CONNECTICUT 

HON. JOE COURTNEY OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

honor the exemplary history of public education in the town of Killingly, Connecticut. 

This year, the town of Killingly celebrates 

the 300th anniversary since its incorporation in 

1708. Equally inspiring, it celebrates the 150th 

anniversary of its public education system. 

The development of public education in Killingly has been a microcosm of the region, the 

state of Connecticut, and country as a 

whole—it is a model of progress. 

From a time when providing free education 

to the public was a visionary innovation to a 

time when teacher shortages plagued the 

country when teachers were drafted to serve 

in World War II, Killingly’s education system 

persevered and thrived. 

The mission outlined by the town of Killingly 

for its school system includes as a high priority fostering citizenship in our Nation’s next 

generation. Moreover, Killingly’s contribution to 

citizenship is not confined to the classroom. I 

was proud to see pictures of the high school 

marching band in a Veterans’ Day parade. 

Killingly’s commitment to community and 

progress is certain to continue to energize its 

education system for another 150 years. 

I am pleased to see Killingly’s strong commitment to education, evolving over many 

generations. I know Connecticut will continue 

to benefit from Killingly’s progress for generations to come. 

f 

RECOGNITION AND THANKS TO 

MICHAEL J. CRONIN 

HON. JOHN B. LARSON OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. LARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

thank Michael Cronin for his three years of 

dedicated service to the House as Office Director of the Office of the Historian. Michael 

first came to the House in 1986 as an intern 

and then upon graduation from college, joined 

the office of former Rep. Timothy J. Penny of 

Minnesota. He left Capitol Hill in 1990 but returned in 2005 to serve as Office Director for 

the reestablished Office of the Historian, under 

the direction of Dr. Robert Remini and Dr. 

Fred Beuttler. This month, Michael will continue his service to the People’s House as the 

Administrative Director of the Office of the Inspector General. 

Madam Speaker, we, as Members, are indeed fortunate to have the services of talented 

individuals like Michael Cronin. I know I join 

the Historian of the House, Dr. Robert V. 

Remini, and the staff of the Office of the Historian in wishing him my best as he begins this 

new position. 

f 

HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE 

OF KENNETH T. JONES, JR. 

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to join the people of Guam in mourning 

the death of a great son of America and community leader in the Pacific where, for the last 

sixty three years, he lived, worked and built a 

business empire. Born in the small town of 

Willow Springs, North Carolina, on November 

22, 1917, Kenneth T. Jones, Jr. will be remembered for his contributions to our community. 

‘‘Ken’’, as he was fondly known to his family, friends and associates, was the consummate business adventurer, always searching 

for new opportunities and always willing to 

venture into new endeavors where he sensed 

success was certain. That business sense 

convinced him that prospects would arise on 

Guam, a small Pacific island he temporarily 

visited as a Navy Chief Petty Officer with the 

25th Seabees during World War II. Hearing 

the slogan, ‘‘Guam, Crossroads of the Pacific’’, Ken instinctively saw great future potentials for those who were willing to work hard 

and had the spirit to succeed. 

Ken befriended Segundo ‘‘Sy’’ Leon Guerrero, a young Guamanian he met during his 

short stay on the island. Ken and Sy had 

many discussions about the future and 

planned for Ken’s return to Guam when they 

would become business partners. But even 

while he was waiting for the opportunity to return to the island, Ken would purchase small 

items to send to Sy who sold them from his 

small Quonset hut in Sinajana, which would 

eventually become the first Town House Department Store under the partnership called 

Jones and Guerrero Company Incorporated, 

immediately coined ‘‘J & G’’ throughout the 

Pacific. 

Under the Chairmanship of Ken Jones, J & 

G rapidly expanded into several areas where 

Ken felt there was a need on island. After 

Town House and upon his return to Guam in 

1946, J & G Repair Shop opened, a natural fit 

for Jones who was an automotive mechanic in 

the Seabees. Other businesses quickly followed: from companies which supplied construction materials, built modular homes and a 

residential subdivision (Jonestown) to the bottling of soft drinks (Pepsi Cola Bottling Co.) 

and J & G Payless Supermarkets. To supply 

his many companies, Ken established Pacific 

Navigation Company, agents for ocean going 

freight liners calling ports in Australia, Asia, 

the Philippines, China and other islands in Micronesia. 

Ken’s business acumen motivated him to 

build Cliff Properties Development, one of the 

island’s first hotels; and the Guam Hilton 

Hotel, Guam’s first major chain hotel. Ken 

Jones’ business interests and ventures were 

not confined to Guam. Ken built and operated 

the Royal Taga Hotel, the first hotel in Saipan, 

CNMI, as well as the Bar K cattle ranch in 

Tinian, CNMI. He operated thoroughbred race 

horse ranches and stables in Australia and the 

bluegrass country of Kentucky. He also built 

and operated a considerable shopping mall in 

his home state of North Carolina. Ken Jones’ 

success as a businessman created within him 

a sense of philanthropy to which he devoted 

much personal time, effort, energy and considerable financial resources. These include leadership roles and membership in such organizations as the American Red Cross; the American Cancer Society; the Guam Chapters of 

the American Boy and Girl Scouts; the Guam 

Vocational Rehabilitation Workshop; the 

Boards and Trustees of several private 

schools, including St. John’s Episcopal 

School, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam; 

the Guam Lytico-Bodig Association; the Makea-Wish Foundation; and the American Heart 

and Lung Association. 

Ken’s efforts and successes as a premier 

businessman have always been recognized by 

the people of Guam and the entire business 

community of the Pacific Basin. This recognition culminated in his induction into the Guam 

Business Hall of Fame on May 2, 1992. In 


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