[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS M. BARRY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 25, 1998

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to an outstanding 
American and citizen from my home state of Missouri, Mr. Thomas M. 
Barry, on the occasion of his appointment as President of SBC 
International's Telkom South Africa operation.
  Tom Barry represents the finest attributes of corporate service--his 
is a true American success story. For over 30 years he progressed 
through a number of assignments in Southwestern Bell's Missouri 
division before his appointment as assistant vice-president for 
external affairs in 1985. The following year Tom was named vice-
president for public affairs for the company's five-state operating 
area. In 1990, he became the president and CEO of Metromedia Paging 
Services, then an SBC Communications Inc. subsidiary. He became senior 
vice president for strategic planning for SBC in 1991 and the following 
year Tom Barry was designated senior vice president for federal 
relations.
  In all of his business before Congress and with my office I have 
known Tom to be highly qualified to address the complex issues emerging 
in the telecommunications field. When Congress debated the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, Tom demonstrated a unique understanding 
of the importance of balancing competing concerns, from his company's 
interest in competitive equities in the telecommunications industry to 
the importance of preserving universal telephone service and the need 
for ``e-rate'' discounts and telecommunications services for schools 
and libraries and rural health care centers.
  I was pleased to learn that Tom will now turn his talents to 
addressing the telecommunications needs of the people of South Africa. 
I have been informed that the telephone penetration level in South 
Africa is only 10% among historically disadvantaged households, a group 
that represents 87% of the population.
  SBC's Telkom South Africa operations, in conjunction with their 
partners, have promised to implement an aggressive plan to modernize 
the existing communications network and expand telecommunications 
services throughout the country for the benefit of all citizens. Tom 
Barry's next mission is to bring telecommunications services to more 
than 20,000 priority customers--including hospitals, schools and 
community centers--throughout South Africa.
  I am happy to join Tom's many friends and colleagues in 
congratulating him on a job well done in Washington and wishing him 
every continued success in his new undertaking as President of SBC 
International's Teikom South Africa office.

                          ____________________