Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember my beloved friend and Montgomery County legend, Jack Fitzgerald, who passed away this week at the age of 89. He will be sharply missed by friends, family, and customers of the Fitzgerald Auto Malls up and down the East Coast. Jack's life embodied the restless, adventuresome spirit of America and entrepreneurial business at their very best. Over the course of his extraordinary life, he built Bethesda Auto from a single storefront in the early 1950s into a massive success, with dealerships across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida. An old-fashioned businessman devoted to the community, he was an eloquent champion of customer safety, consumer protection, and employee well-being. He pioneered the installation of child safety seats before it became an industry standard. Jack was friends not just with CEOs of auto companies but with Ralph Nader. Remarkably, Jack transferred his company to employee stock ownership over the last year before his death. His legacy now lives on in his employees and in everybody in Montgomery County, Maryland, who loved him. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting the life of Jack Fitzgerald, who was a pillar of our community and a local hero. May his memory be a blessing. ____________________”