[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E21-E22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO CHARLES MECHEM, JR., A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Charles 
Mechem, Jr., a dear friend and community leader who will be honored as 
a Great Living Cincinnatian on February 4, 2000, by the Greater 
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. He was selected for this honor because 
of his outstanding business accomplishments, awareness of the needs of 
others, community service, civic accomplishments and contributions that 
have increased the quality of life in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio.
  Mr. Mechem grew up in Nelsonville, Ohio, and currently lives in 
Clifton with his wife, Marilyn. They have three children. A graduate of 
Miami University and Yale Law School, Mr. Mechem has had a most 
distinguished career, bringing business and entertainment to the 
Greater Cincinnati area. Mr. Mechem likes to say he has enjoyed four 
careers: as a partner

[[Page E22]]

at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister; as CEO of Taft Broadcasting; as 
commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association; and in his 
own words, ``life after that''--which includes serving as Chairman of 
the Board at Convergys and as the personal business adviser to golf 
legend Arnold Palmer.
  For more than 40 years, Mr. Mechem has focused on bringing 
entertainment opportunities to the Cincinnati area. As he puts it, he 
``was motivated . . . to do things that made this community a fun place 
to live in.'' Mr. Mechem was instrumental in bringing the Cincinnati 
Bengals franchise to town; spearheading the vision and construction of 
Kings Island; and helping to provide the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 
a new home at Riverbend by donating the site adjacent to Coney Island. 
Nationally, Mr. Mechem worked tireless for five years with the LPGA to 
lead a national resurgence of interest in the game.
  In the business community, Mr. Mechem served Cincinnati as President 
of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce in 1977 and Co-Chaired 
the Chamber's Blue Chip Campaign from 1979-86. His other leadership 
roles include: National Chairman, Miami University Goals for Enrichment 
Campaign; President, Family Service; Co-Chair, Cincinnati Business 
Committee; and Founder/President of the Greater Cincinnati Sports & 
Events Commission. In addition to being the Chairman of the Board at 
Convergys, Mr. Mechem also serves on the Board of Directors at Mead 
Corp., Ohio National Life Insurance, Arnold Palmer Golf Co., The J.M. 
Smucker Co. and Myers Y. Cooper Company.
  All of us in Cincinnati are grateful to him for his full devotion and 
service to community.

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