[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ROBERT A. GUTHANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bobby Guthans a 
respected leader in his field, an outstanding citizen in our community 
and quite frankly, as fine a gentleman as I have ever known. On a 
personal note, I am also pleased and honored to call Bobby Guthans my 
friend.
  Bobby recently retired as president of Midstream Fuel Inc., Petroleum 
Energy Products Co., and Tenn-Tom Towing Co. As one of the founders of 
Midstream back in 1974, Bobby helped build a company that soon became 
recognized around the world as one of the innovative leaders in the 
maritime industry.
  Bobby's success at Midstream didn't just happen because he's a nice 
guy with a great outlook on life, although he is certainly that.
  It was the product of hard work, a good business head on his 
shoulders and a work ethic and respect for others that is second-to-
none. In addition, Bobby, and his lovely wife Barbara Ann, come from 
the old school who believe ``it is better to give than receive.''
  As such, they have volunteered literally untold hours in worthy civic 
and charitable endeavors, always with the attitude that it is right to 
give something back to your community and to your fellow man. Both 
Bobby and Barbara Ann are without peers when it comes to their 
generosity.
  While being a first-class CEO, as well as a wonderful husband, father 
and grandfather, Bobby has also found time to hold down many important 
positions of leadership in his industry as well as his community. Some 
of these include: Chairman of the Board of American Waterways 
Operators; Chairman of the Southern Region of the AWO; Chairman of the 
Board of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce; Director of the Executive 
Committee of the Warrior-Tombigbee Development Association; and 
Director of the World Dredging Association.
  In addition, he is on the boards of the Mobile Economic Development 
Council, the Mobile Industrial Development Board, the National 
Waterways Conference, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, the Geological 
Survey of Alabama and the Navy League of Mobile.
  Bobby's community spirit has not gone without notice or thanks. 
Earlier this year, the U.S. Coast Guard bestowed upon Bobby its second-
highest honor, the Meritorious Public Service Commendation. In 
addition, he has received the Alfred F. Delchamps, Jr. Award and the 
National Rivers Hall of Fame Achievement Award. In 1990, the Propellor 
Club named him Maritime Man of the Year.
  Bobby is a native of Mobile and is a graduate of Virginia Military 
Institute, where he was commissioned as an Army officer and spent the 
next two years fighting for his country in the Korean Conflict. Today, 
Bobby serves on the board of VMI, as well as on the board of Spring 
Hill College in Mobile.
  There are few people in the life of Mobile who have given as much, 
and as often, as has Bobby Guthans. Today, Bobby has chosen to spend a 
little more time with his bride of 40-plus years, their two children, 
Robert A. Guthans, Jr. and Jean Guthans Wilkins, and their five 
beauitful grandchildren. But that doesn't mean he's going to have a lot 
of free time on his hands, for Bobby doesn't know how to slow down. As 
he recently told a reporter from the Mobile Register, ``I've got to be 
doing something. I'm not the kind of person who can spend his days 
hitting golf balls around.''
  Mr. Speaker, that's good news for Mobile, Alabama. For if you think 
about all that Bobby Guthans has been able to do for his community, his 
state and his nation while he was also running a multi-million dollar 
corporation, just think what he'll be able to do now that he doesn't 
have to show up to work at seven o'clock in the morning.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute Bobby Guthans. He's a good man and a wonderful 
role model for us all.

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