[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO HOWARD H. PENUEL

                                 ______


                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 17, 1994

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank a devoted resident of my 
hometown of Murfreesboro and a great friend, Mr. Howard H. Penuel, for 
his 16 years of outstanding service as Rutherford County trustee and to 
congratulate him for serving longer than any other trustee in the 
history of Rutherford County.
  A lifelong Middle Tennessean who was born in Wilson County, Mr. 
Penuel moved in 1941 to Murfreesboro, where he began his public service 
by driving a school bus and then serving the community as a salesman at 
Haynes Hardware Company.
  Seeking self-employment, Mr. Penuel later formed a partnership and 
opened a business that he would later own, Seventy-Nine Auto Body 
Repair. After selling this business, Mr. Penuel opened Penuel's Surplus 
Sales, a furniture and general merchandise store in Rutherford County.
  Mr. Penuel was an active force in State and county Democratic 
campaigns for several years, working tirelessly and selflessly for 
causes and candidates he believed in. This experience paid off for Mr. 
Penuel himself when he ran for--and won--his first political office in 
1978: Rutherford County trustee.
  His service made quite an impression not only on natives of 
Rutherford County but on all Tennesseans, who elected him ``Trustee of 
the year'' after he served just one term. The County Officials 
Association of Tennessee, for which he served as president, also named 
him Outstanding Trustee of the Year.
  Mr. Penuel displayed both foresight and vision as a trustee. Because 
he developed the county's first idle money investment program, the only 
debt Rutherford County owes is a debt of gratitude to Mr. Penuel. His 
initiative held the property tax rate low by earning the county 
millions of dollars in interest.
  Rutherford County is indeed losing a valuable leader who has shown 
all of us what it means to serve and undoubtedly will continue to do 
so. Rutherford County's loss, however, is a big gain for Mr. Penuel's 
seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who will be the new 
beneficiaries of his energy and attention. The golf course beckons him 
as well.
  Please join me and all other Middle Tennesseans in wishing him well 
in his retirement.

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