[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 66 (Monday, May 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KEN WHEELER

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
career and civic contributions of Mr. Ken Wheeler, an industry leader 
and community builder in Paducah, Kentucky. Ken's recent retirement is 
the culmination of a forty-two year career in the maritime industry 
spanning shipbuilding to inland shipping.
  Ken earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Southern Methodist 
University and worked for twenty-four years for Ingalls Shipbuilding in 
the company's nuclear-submarine division. By the time he left Ingalls 
Shipbuilding, he was the company's vice-president of submarine 
programs. Contributions from individuals such as Ken Wheeler helped 
make our nation's nuclear-submarine fleet the safest, quietest, and 
most effective in the world. In the early 1980's, Ken and his wife, 
Jean, relocated to Paducah following Ken's career move to Midland 
Enterprises, which operates tow boats on the nations inland riverways.
  Since joining Midland Enterprises, Ken has held various positions 
including vice-president of repair and maintenance, Port Allen Marine; 
president, Walker Boat Yard; vice-president, Harley Marine Corp.; 
president, R & W Marine, Inc.; and vice-president, maintenance and 
repair for all the Midland Enterprise companies.
  Ken has been a key player in establishing Paducah as a national hub 
for river trade. The city currently boasts about twenty towing 
companies, and more than 130 supporting businesses. The towing industry 
in Paducah accounts for approximately 1,300 jobs and a $35,000,000 
annual payroll. Ken has used his position within the industry as a 
``bully pulpit'' to advocate needed infrastructure improvements on the 
riverways, our nation's internal trade lifeline. From the new Olmsted 
Dam on the Ohio River, not far from its confluence with the mighty 
Mississippi, to the expanded lock facilities at Kentucky Dam on the 
Tennessee River, Ken has worked to make sure that the general public as 
well as those in government understand the importance of a strong and 
vital river-transportation network. A network which has a great, but 
often unrecognized impact on our American way of life. Ken's goal as we 
cross the threshold into a new millennia has simply been to make 
certain that America's riverways continue to supply the economical 
transportation which we have so long enjoyed. As other countries around 
the world improve their inland transportation networks, we must work to 
ensure that increased costs of transportation do not put our exports at 
a competitive disadvantage.
  In other areas of civic concern, Ken has also worked to better 
Western Kentucky by serving on the boards of Paducah Community College, 
and West Kentucky Technical College. He is a past president of the 
Propeller Club of the United States. Additionally, he chairs the River 
Heritage Center, an exciting new development which will showcase the 
history of the inland rivers and their importance.
  Mr. President, I commend Ken Wheeler for his outstanding service to 
Kentucky and the nation. Whether it be building systems that helped win 
the Cold War, or championing an industry vital to our national 
commerce, Ken Wheeler's contributions will have long-lasting effect. I 
ask that my fellow colleagues join me in recognizing the career of this 
outstanding Kentuckian.

                          ____________________