HARRISBURG (June 3, 2004) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) presented its prestigious Liberty Bell Award to Pennsylvania State Senator John Pippy during the association�s Annual Meeting in Hershey May 13-15, 2004.

�Our Liberty Bell Award recognizes the individualism, courage, enterprise and altruism of leaders in a free society,� said Judge Todd Seelig, then-chair of the YLD. �We could not think of anyone more deserving of this award than Senator Pippy for his years of service and leadership to Pennsylvania and our country.�

The PBA/YLD presents the Liberty Bell Award to a nonlawyer for his or her outstanding community service and for promoting the �blessing of liberty� guaranteed by the Constitution. Criteria for the award includes: promoting a better understanding of our government and the Bill of Rights; encouraging greater respect for the law and the courts; creating a better awareness of individual responsibility so that citizens recognize their duties as well as their rights; contributing to the effective functioning of our government; and encouraging a better understanding and appreciation of the rule of law.

Sen. Pippy was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in March 2003 and was sworn in while on a short leave of absence from his role as commanding officer of the 332nd Army Reserve Engineer Company on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Pippy's unit completed its tour of duty in Kuwait and Iraq after which Sen. Pippy returned to the Senate in January 2004.

Sen. Pippy is vice chair of the Senate State Government Committee, which oversees the Department of State and is a member of the Environmental Resources and Energy, Game and Fisheries, Law and Justice and Urban Affairs and Housing committees. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Sen. Pippy served four terms in the state House of Representatives.

During his tenure in the General Assembly, Sen. Pippy has served as a member of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission and the Allegheny County Airport Authority. He also spearheaded economic development initiatives for the airport corridor, including the funding of the Industry Drive Extension project, the Air Cargo Interchange and the Mon Fayette Expressway's Findlay Connector. Sen. Pippy also has authored several pieces of legislation.

Prior to his state government service, Sen. Pippy served as a supervisor in the Chemical Lab, the Productivity Department and the Labor Relations Department of U.S. Steel Clairton Works. He previously completed three years on active duty as an engineer officer at Ft. Hood, Tx. In addition, Sen. Pippy served as the honorary chair for the American Cancer Society Moon Area Relay for Life and as finance chair for the Chartiers District of the Greater Pittsburgh Council of The Boy Scouts of America.

Sen. Pippy is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He and his wife Katherine have two children.