Elias "Skip" Ashooh

Senator Bob Smith

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Skip Ashooh, a dynamic and inspiring entrepreneur and the forty-seventh recipient of the prestigous Citizen of the Year Award from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Skip, a native of the Queen City, was honored with this award, where he was applauded by more than 650 enthusiastic business and community leaders who gathered together to honor this outstanding citizen. Skip was surprised to see his exuberant mother and six siblings who reunited to share in this joyous occasion.

Upon completion of his bachelor's degree from Saint Anselm College in 1973, Skip pursued a career as a junior high social studies teacher in Manchester where he shared his love of American history with his students.

After many years of teaching, Skip launched a new career as a licensed stock broker. Today, Skip heads his own successful financial services firm in downtown Manchester.

Through community service, Skip has demonstrated his tireless dedication and commitment as an active member of numerous civic and community boards. His most significant contribution to Manchester has been as an ardent supporter and advocate of the Manchester Civic Center. Skip should take great pride in the economic revival of downtown Manchester. I look forward to the opening face-off of the Monarchs when the Manchester Civic Center comes to life in November of this year.

As Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

Skip cares deeply about Manchester and the State of New Hampshire and is an articulate and enthusiastic advocate for maintaining our place as a leader in technology and in quality of life. For his deep commitment to our state and for the positive results he has achieved in support of community and economic prosperity, it is my pleasure to honor him today and represent him in the United States Senate.

[Taken from the Congressional Record, 12 March 2001, page S2160.]