[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 110 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1507-E1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DR. SVEN-PETER MANNSFELD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 18, 2000

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, one of my 
constituents and friends, a chemist and civic leader of the First 
District of Alabama, retired after a 36-year tenure with Degussa-Huls 
Corporation. Dr. Sven-Peter Mannsfeld deserves to be recognized for his 
accomplishments and contributions.
  The son of Dr. Wilhelm Mannsfeld and Dr. Margarita Mannsfeld, Dr. 
Sven-Peter Mannsfeld was born in Riga, Latvia, on July 24, 1935. He 
became a German citizen in 1939 and an American citizen in 1989. Now, 
he and his wife, Sybille Elise Spormann Mannsfeld, have three 
accomplished sons of their own, Percy, Boris and Andy.
  Dr. Mannsfeld is a chemist. He studied at the ``Max Planck Institut 
fur Kohleforschung'' in Rostock, Dresden, Bonn, and Gottingen, Germany 
and, finally, at the University of

[[Page E1508]]

Gottingen where he earned his Masters in Chemistry and, later, his 
Ph.D. in Natural Sciences. In 1964, he began his career with Degussa 
working for various plants in the Cologne region of Germany. Then, in 
1971, he went on to the Degussa AG headquarters in Frankfurt where he 
worked in Project Management for Research, Development and Production 
Projects. Two years later Dr. Mannsfeld was put in charge of finding a 
site for a plant in the United States, and soon thereafter, Mobile 
welcomed Dr. Mannsfeld into the community.
  In 1973, Dr. Mannsfeld became president of Degussa Alabama, Inc. and 
also served as Plant Manager for Degussa's Theodore Plant operations. 
Later, in 1977, he became the executive vice president of technology, 
engineering, and plant services for all Degussa sites in the United 
States. Finally, in 1999, Dr. Mannsfeld became the executive vice 
president and chief technical advisor to the CEO and a member of the 
Board of Directors of Degussa-Huls Corporation. It is from this 
position that Dr. Mannsfeld has recently retired.
  Bringing Degussa to Mobile was the singular vision of Dr. Mannsfeld 
and for nearly 30 years, Degussa and the citizens of south Alabama have 
benefited from this mutually beneficial relationship.
  In addition to his service and leadership in Degussa, Dr. Mannsfeld 
has greatly contributed to the city of Mobile and all of Alabama. 
Shortly after becoming a United States citizen in 1989, Dr. Mannsfeld 
became chairman of the Business Council of Alabama in 1990. Following 
his Distinguished Service Cross award (in which the president of the 
Federal Republic of Germany presented him with the ribbon of the 
Distinguished Service Medal of the Republic), he was named Honorary 
Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for Alabama. Dr. Mannsfeld 
was a participant from 1994 to 1997 in the Mercedes Alabama Project-
Tuscaloosa, which ended up successfully bringing Mercedes-Benz to 
Alabama.
  From 1995 to 1998, he was involved in the Mitsubishi Polysilicon 
Project in Mobile and from 1997 to 2000, with the Phenolchemie Mobile/
Theodore Project. Additionally, he was instrumental in moving forward 
the important Theodore Industrial Park Dock Project. Finally, from 1998 
to 2000, he participated in the Alabama Power Theodore Cogeneration 
Project. In 1999 Dr. Mannsfeld was named to the Board of Directors of 
Atlantic Marine Holding Company.
  Dr. Mannsfeld's accomplishments and contributions do not end there, 
however. He additionally serves as a member of distinguished 
organizations such as the Mobile College Fellows, the American Chemical 
Engineers, the Midgulf Business Roundtable, the Alabama Chemical 
Association, the Board of Regents of Spring Hill College, The 
University of Alabama at Birmingham Advisory Council, the National 
Association of Manufacturers, and the Alabama School of Math and 
Science. In addition to this already impressive and exhaustive list, 
Dr. Mannsfeld has served on the Board of Directors of Degussa 
Corporation, the Ultraform Company, Nilok, Inc., Compass Bank of 
Mobile, and the Board of Directors of the Business Council of Alabama.
  Dr. Mannsfeld is also a former member of many other Boards of 
Directors. These include the National Association of Manufacturers, the 
Associated Industries of Alabama, the Alabama Chemical Association, the 
Doctors Hospital, the YMCA-Chandler Branch, Mobile, WHIL Gulf Coast 
Public Broadcasting Company, the Mobile United Way, the Mobile United-
Civic Organization, the Independent Colleges of Alabama, the Better 
Business Bureau, and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
  Dr. Mannsfeld has added to the social aspect of Mobile and elsewhere 
through other noteworthy organizations. He belongs to the Corps Teutoni 
Hercynia Gottingen (a university fraternal organization), the Mobile 
Country Club, Ducks Unlimited, the Degussa Hunting Club, the Alabama 
Wildlife Federation, the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, the 
Audubon Society, the Mystical Carnival Society, and the U.S. Chess 
Federation.
  Dr. Mannsfeld's contributions, both civic and business, have greatly 
impacted the citizens of south Alabama. While he has formally retired 
from the Degussa Corporation, it is my sincere hope and wish that south 
Alabama and the constituents I represent will continue to benefit from 
his presence and engagement in civic and business affairs.
  Thank you, Dr. Mannsfeld, for all your many contributions to our 
community. May your retirement bring you many challenging, relaxing and 
enjoyable years.

                          ____________________