Tribute To Gilbert Lessenco

TRIBUTE TO GILBERT LESSENCO -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 08, 2006)

* Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished career of Mr. Gilbert Lessenco and to congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Lessenco has dedicated his half century of legal practice to not only his clients, but his community and his country.

* Mr. Lessenco's superior performance as a lawyer was recognized early in his career when he received the ``Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year'' from the District of Columbia Bar in 1965. Mr. Lessenco has been in private practice for 50 years, but prior to that he served in the United States Air Force as chief, legal officer at Hanscom Air Force Base in Lexington, MA. He continues to serve his community to this day as a member of the faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Professional Studies in Business and Education, teaching marketing and business law. His commitment to his students was honored publicly when he received the ``Above and Beyond'' faculty award from the Department of Marketing. Mr. Lessenco earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1953 and his B.S. from the Johns Hopkins University in 1950.

* Mr. Lessenco has also had an active civic and political career. He has been an active supporter of the Democratic Party since 1958. From 1970-74, Mr. Lessenco was a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and has been engaged in Democratic Party politics ever since. He served as a commissioner of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission from 1987-92 and as its chairman from 1989-90. He has also served as chairman of the International Visitors Service Council, 1962, trustee for the Meridian House Foundation, 1970-80, president of the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, 1980-82, and president of the Jewish Social Service Agency of Greater Washington, 1984-86, and currently serves as the co-chairman for St. Luke's House Building Fund.

* Mr. Lessenco is also a dedicated husband, father and treasured mentor.

* Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere congratulations to Gil Lessenco as he celebrates a distinguished career and lifetime of learning and serving our community. I ask my colleagues of the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the many accomplishments of this extraordinary man.

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