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2003 PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

Joseph T. "Joe" Houlihan

Joe was born in Newport on April 4,1941 and, during the ensuing 60 plus years, has lived a life normally attributed to storybook characters. He has faced serious obstacles and overcame them. He has worked relentlessly to succeed professionally. He has made countless friends along the way and has earned the reputation of a guy that never forgets a friend or where he came from. He often exhibits what is probably his greatest attribute, his determination, a pure unwillingness to ever give up or quit in the face of adversity.

Joe was raised in Park Holm, a project where everyone had a nick name like “Buff”, “Biff”, “Sang”, “Peepers”, “Mouse”, and “Knobby”. Joe’s was “Hoot”. Born with a competitive nature, he turned to sports at an early age and was very good at it. He was one of the original members of the Park Holm Boys Club where he walked off with the table tennis trophy when he was 8 years old.

High School was at De La Salle Academy where sports continued to reign as one of his prime interests. Joe graduated in 1958, being awarded the Herbert E. McCauley Trophy for The Outstanding All Around Athlete.

Joe continued his education at New York University, University of Rhode Island, and St. John's University School of Law, LLB - 1967, Editor, St John's University, Law Review, Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Trial Practice and Evidence.

Joe is married to Maryann Houlihan, has had four children, Joseph T. Houlihan, Jr., Matthew T. Houlihan (deceased), Moira E. Houlihan, and Sean M. Houlihan.

Joe has an interest range that spans far and wide, from Picasso to Sugar Ray Robinson, from Richard Wagner to Michael Collins. He is a voracious reader, a theatre lover and film addict. He hates strawberries.

Later, Joe's interest in sports turned to running, which he attacked with intensity. If there was a race somewhere in the state, Joe was usually in it. Some of his favorites are the St Pat's S Miler, The Thanksgiving Pie Run, and The Jamestown Jack-O-Lantern.

Joe s professional and civic accomplishments are well documented, In part; he has been so successful because he is focused, determined, curious and creative. His generosity needs no embellishment. When trying to Summarize Joe's life and career to date, one has but to think of the inscription on the Herbert E. McCauley Trophy; “Outstanding All Around”.