Honoring the life and achievements of Joseph E. Montgomery, a longtime president of Division 65 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a passionate advocate for Philadelphia's Irish-American Community

WHEREAS, Joseph E. Montgomery was born in South Philadelphia, and attended Roman Catholic High School. Mr. Montgomery left school before graduation to help support his family and joined the Army in 1940. During World War II, Montgomery served with the Army Air Corps flying antisubmarine bombing patrols near the Panama Canal Zone; and

WHEREAS, Leaving the Army in 1946, Montgomery began his career as a delivery driver for what became the Frankford-Quaker Grocery Co., a wholesaler in Northeast Philadelphia. He was a member of Local 107 and Local 500 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and after his retirement at the age of 62, Montgomery served for many years a the recording secretary for the Teamsters Retiree Association; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery's father-in-law, Patrick Collis, an Irish immigrant from county Sligo, started Joseph's involvement with the Ancient Order of Hibernians in the late 1940's. He would rise through the ranks of the organization quickly, first being elected president in 1958. Montgomery would continue to serve in this position for the next 40 years until 1998. In that year, Division 65 was officially named in his honor, making Joseph the only living person to ever have an AOH division named after him; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery served for six decades as a member of the St. Patrick's Day Observance Committee and he served a Grand Marshall of the parade in 1993. Joseph was also named the 1983 Man of the Year by the United Irish-American Societies of the Delaware Valley; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery served as president of the Pennsylvania State Board, and national chairman of the Freedom for All Ireland Committee, an effort to promote the uniting of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. With family hailing from county Cavan, Montgomery made three trips to Ireland, the last being in his early 80's; and

WHEREAS, After a full and fruitful life, Joseph Montgomery passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the age of 95; and

WHEREAS, Joseph is survived by his son Patrick, daughters Kathleen DePetris and Joanne, a brother, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Joseph's wife of 55 years, Mary, died in 1998; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor the life and achievements of Joseph E. Montgomery, a longtime president of Division 65 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a passionate advocate for Philadelphia's Irish-American Community.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Joseph's son, Patrick Montgomery as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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