[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF J. BRUCE McKINNEY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD 
        OF DIRECTORS AT HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS COMPANY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. J. 
Bruce McKinney on the announcement of his retirement as Chairman of the 
Board of Directors at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company in 
Hershey, Pennsylvania.
  Mr. McKinney, who turned 63 in February, held a wide variety of 
positions in his long and exemplary career. He attended Milton Hershey 
School, Dickinson College, Dickinson Law School, and the Pennsylvania 
State Executive Management Program. In 1966, Mr. McKinney began working 
as an executive staff assistant for Hershey Foods Corporation. Five 
years later, he joined the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company team 
(HERCO) as the assistant general manager for HERSHEYPARK, only to 
become general manager a mere one year later. Throughout the seventies 
and eighties, Mr. McKinney went on to hold various challenging, 
exciting, and prestigious senior officer positions in the Hershey area. 
Some of the most notable positions include: group vice president of 
Sports and Entertainment in 1974, senior vice president of HERCO's 
Commercial Group in 1981, and corporate executive vice president in 
1985. Throughout his tenure at HERCO, Mr. McKinney is remembered 
chiefly for leading the team that brought the corporation out of near 
financial ruin to an extremely high level of prosperity, saving the 
company from certain failure. Because of his honorable services, a year 
later, on March 1, 1986, Mr. McKinney became the chief operating 
officer at HERCO, later assuming the role as chief executive officer on 
August 10, 1987, and then taking the position of chairman of the board 
on October 24, 1989. Mr. McKinney remained at HERCO for another eleven 
years, eventually becoming chief executive officer and chairman of the 
board. On September 22, 1999, after seven consecutive record-breaking 
years from 1993-2000, Mr. McKinney decided to respectfully retire from 
HERCO. Assuming Mr. McKinney's responsibilities is Mr. Scott J. Newkam, 
who was named president and chief executive officer.
  Following his retirement, Mr. McKinney will continue to serve on the 
board of directors of the Hershey Trust Company and the M.S. Hershey 
Foundation. He will also tend to his duties on the board of managers 
for the Milton Hershey School, and serve as a director on the Team 
Pennsylvania Board, where he is instrumental in the promotion of 
regional cooperation. Even in his retirement, Mr. McKinney will 
continue to serve the community through his tireless efforts in 
ensuring the future prosperity of Hershey.
  Mr. McKinney will continue to reside in Hershey, Pennsylvania with 
his wife Sally, two daughters, Kelly McKinney-Brakewood and Kathleen 
McKinney-Gavazzi, and three grandchildren, Harrison, Eleanor, and 
Grace.
  Mr. Speaker, I recognize Mr. McKinney for his tremendous career and 
life work in Hershey, and wish him the best of luck, in all his future 
endeavors.

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