[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO JOHN BERRY, SR.: OHIO ENTREPRENEUR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 5, 1998

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I and my colleagues, John Boehner, David 
Hobson and Tony Hall, rise today so that my colleagues and I may 
recognize the life of a giant of American business and philanthropy, 
John Berry, Sr., a friend and entrepreneur who passed away on May 20, 
1998. When Mr. Berry took over his father's small telephone book 
company in 1946, it employed 50 people and generated $2 million in 
annual revenue. Under his leadership, the company became the largest 
independent publisher of the Yellow Pages in the United States and grew 
to $1 billion in annual revenue by 1986 and employed 3,000. It went 
international in the mid-sixties with a joint venture with ITT World 
Directories, which grew to become the largest publisher of the Yellow 
Pages outside of the United States.
  Mr. Berry was a graduate of Dartmouth College, a school he loved and 
generously supported over the years. Most recently, the college library 
was renamed ``Berry Baker'' due to his strong support for the college 
and its mission. He served in the Army during World War II and was a 
committed community volunteer, serving as Chairman of the Board of 
Trustees of the Air Force Museum Foundation and on the Boards of 
Trustees of the University of Dayton and The Ohio State University and 
The Ohio State University Foundation. He was also a member of the 
Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Dayton Urban League and Junior Achievement 
of Dayton and Miami Valley.
  Mr. Berry received several honorary degrees, including Doctor of Laws 
from Dartmouth College, Doctor of Humane Letters from University of 
Dayton, Doctor of Public Service from Rio Grande College, and Doctor of 
Business Administration from the Ohio State University. He also 
received the Everett D. Reese Medal from The Ohio State University in 
recognition of his service.
  Those who knew John Berry knew him as a remarkably successful 
entrepreneur and a community leader. But they also knew that nothing 
was more important to him than his family. He is survived by his wife, 
Marilynn; five sons: George, John Jr., David, Richard, and Charles; two 
daughters: Vickie and Lynne; and 18 grandchildren. John Berry was the 
quintessential American success story, but also had a quintessential 
American spirit of giving back to his country. He will be missed by 
all.

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