[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E196-E197]



                HONORING THE LIFE OF ARCHIE SAVAGE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of Mr. Archie Savage, Jr. Sadly, Archie passed away last year at 
the West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  Archie was born in Memphis in 1930 but called New Britain, 
Connecticut home since 1980. As a young man just out of high school, 
Archie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and 
afterwards continued to serve his country as a counterintelligence 
agent at the height of the Cold War. Archie found time during his 22 
years of service to this country to acquire an education with a 
Bachelors Degree from the University of Denver in 1966 followed by a 
Masters in Education in 1971, and a Ph.D. from Denver University in 
1976.
  As a public servant Archie was truly exceptional. The first African-
American operative in the Central Intelligence Agency, Archie's 22-year 
career with the Agency brought him across Europe and Asia. He served 
with distinction on the frontlines of the Cold War at a time of great 
peril to America and her allies. Archie was given the rank of Officier 
de la Legion d'Honneur, one of the highest civilian awards granted by 
the French Republic, for his role in foiling an attempt on the life of 
President de Gaulle of France in the 1960s.
  After he retired from government service, Archie dedicated his life 
to improving his community in New Britain and across Connecticut.

[[Page E197]]

He served as a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University 
and for the past 15 years was the Director of the Office of Affirmative 
Action at the UCONN Health Center. Over the course of his life he also 
served on the Board of Directors for a variety of organizations like 
United Way, the New Britain Public Library, Catholic Family Services, 
and the Boys and Girls Club; always seeking to give back to his adopted 
home in New Britain. A devout man, Archie was a long-time member and 
past Senior Warden of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in New Britain.
  The creation of a more just and inclusive society was the issue that 
defined Archie's lifetime of community service more than any other. He 
served as President of the New Britain-Berlin Rotary Club, an 
organization dedicated to strengthening the community by bringing 
people together in service to the community. Archie also served as 
Chairman of the New Britain Commission on Human Rights and sat on the 
National Board of Directors of YMCA in the U.S.A. While there he took 
part in the Jerusalem International YMCA Task Force, a program that 
seeks to bring opposing communities together and build peace in the 
Holy Land. Only recently did Archie retire from his position on the New 
Britain YMCA Board of Trustees.
  In reflection on the unfortunate loss of a decorated public servant, 
veteran, and advocate for the communities of New Britain and 
Connecticut, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and honoring 
the life of Archie Savage, Jr. and the work he has done defending this 
country and working to bring together diverse communities across 
Connecticut and the world.

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