[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1762-E1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO MR. LONNIE THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN M. SPRATT, JR.

                           of south carolina

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Mr. Clyburn and I rise today 
to take a moment and recognize Mr. Lonnie Thompson, President of 
SOPAKCO of Mullins, SC, which has facilities in each of our 
congressional districts.
  Mr. Thompson was recently presented the Colonel Merton Singer Award 
for outstanding contributions to the Department of Defense. The Colonel 
Singer Award is the Research & Development Associates for Military Food 
& Packaging Systems, Inc. (R&DA) most prestigious award for industry. 
He was selected for this award based on his significant accomplishments 
in the area of supporting U.S. forces in all locations throughout the 
world. He has led his company to improve the quality and contents of 
Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), Unitized Group Rations, and other specialized 
rations. His leadership has placed SOPAKCO into the forefront of 
supporting military forces.
  SOPAKCO was founded in 1943 to package military rations for Allied 
troops during World War II. Today, SOPAKCO's Packaging division serves 
military, humanitarian and non-military organizations around the world. 
SOPAKCO Packaging maintains and operates a packaging plant in Mullins, 
South Carolina, and a food processing facility in Bennettsville, South 
Carolina.

[[Page E1763]]

  Mr. Speaker, Lonnie Thompson's accomplishments are of the highest 
order and support the needs of the Department of Defense for today and 
tomorrow. Mr. Thompson's leadership and commitment is what we recognize 
and honor today.

                          ____________________