Gregory Meeks: “This is indeed a sad time, but a happy time. Sad, and my prayers go out to Tom, Thomas J. Manton and his family over his…”

“This is indeed a sad time, but a happy time. Sad, and my prayers go out to Tom, Thomas J. Manton and his family over his passing; but happy because his life passed our way. And so, as in all things, we thank God. We thank God for the life of Thomas J. Manton. {time} 2030 When I think of Tom and all of what he has done in his career, there is a commercial that ran some time ago and it said he ``did it the old- fashioned way.'' Well, Tom became an attorney, a member of the New York City Police Department, a member of the city council, a Member of the United States House of Representatives, and a county leader of Queens County the old-fashioned way. He earned it. He truly is an inspiration for men and women who may have grown up on the hard side of the mountain, that if, in fact, you focus and you work hard, that truly you can make a contribution to your community and to the great society that we call America. When I think of Tom, I think of words like ``gentleman.'' I think of words like ``dignity,'' and I think of words like ``respect.'' In 1984, we needed the right person at the right time to bring Queens County politics back, and history is something that is ongoing. And you never know when you are creating history or you are part of history. You just do what you have to do. But in 1984, Queens County politics was at its all-time low.…”