[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO TRUMAN KOEHLER ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM SANDOZ CORP.

                                 ______


                            HON. SUE MYRICK

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 28, 1996

  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, in a time when America so desperately needs 
clear leadership; in a time when America so desperately needs ethical 
leaders; in a time when America needs to rally all of our best 
resources to find effective and fair ways to make crucial business, 
community and government decisions, I am pleased to bring to your 
attention an excellent role model for all of us.
  The exemplary business leader to whom I refer is Truman L. Koehler. 
Truman currently serves Sandoz Corp. as the president of Master 
Builders, Inc., based in Cleveland, OH, and as a member of the 
executive committee for Sandoz Corp., based in New York. But he plans 
to retire from these positions on May 1 to return to his home since 
1981 in my favorite city, Charlotte, NC.
  This is good news for Charlotte, for North Carolina, and for America. 
For during all of his business life, Truman has used his time, mind, 
and leadership talents to improve the quality of life on local, State, 
and national levels. With time away from daily management duties, I 
fully expect us to benefit from Truman's leadership in many ways on all 
of these levels.
  Truman prepared himself for industry by earning a bachelor's degree 
in chemistry from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. He continued to 
prepare himself for business leadership by earning a master's degree in 
experimental statistics from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, 
while working in quality control for Sylvania Electric Products, Inc., 
from 1952 to 1957. His keen mind and straight-forward manner were great 
assets to American Cyanamid Corp. in a wide variety of technical, 
marketing, and management assignments from 1957 to 1981. While taking 
on increasing management responsibility, Truman took time to develop 
and teach a series of evening courses in applied statistics in areas 
such as biology, agriculture, and ecology.
  Truman came to Charlotte in 1981 as president and chief executive 
officer for the Sodyeco Division of Martin Marietta Corp. When Sandoz 
Ltd. of Basel, Switzerland, purchased Sodyeco in 1983, and later merged 
it with Sandoz United States dyes and chemical businesses, Sandoz 
worldwide executives selected Truman to continue to run the new 
company, Sandoz Chemicals Corp. As president and chief executive 
officer of these businesses for 10 years, Truman led State and local 
initiatives that brought community and business interests together for 
the benefit of all our citizens.
  For example; during his 10 years in Charlotte, Truman chaired the 
mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee that recommended and then guided the 
development of an emergency response system for the city; served as a 
director Executive Committee member and a leader of the nationally 
acclaimed Environmental School for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce; 
encouraged the development of a Manufacturer's Council to assure a 
steady and effective partnership among manufacturing merchandising and 
service members within the Charlotte Chamber; and to represent 
manufacturing interests in the community; served the community as a 
trustee of Science Museums of Charlotte; served all of the citizens of 
the State as chairman of the North Carolina Governor's Commission on 
Hazardous Waste Disposal; and continued to serve his alma mater as a 
trustee of Muhlenberg College on Allentown, PA.
  During that time, Truman also served our Nation by using his 
commitment to intelligent and safe management of safety and 
environmental issues to help set standards and policies for the 
professions and industries he has served. He is a Fellow of the 
American Society for Quality Control and has served as director of the 
National Association of Manufacturers, the Chemical Manufacturers 
Association, and the National Paint and Coating Association.
  Truman is recognized by his professional colleagues as a strong 
example of the best in American management. They know him to be an able 
and talented manager with a sincere concern for the financial and 
safety welfare of his employees; committed to safety and environmental 
responsibility; and an intelligent business executive who cares about 
the quality of life for his employees and his communities.
  Charlotte enthusiastically welcomes back one of our most progressive 
and effective business civic leaders.

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