[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING MS. JULIE ANN CRIPE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ms. Julie Ann Cripe 
on being named Chairperson of the Board of Financial Women 
International, at the 79th Annual meeting being held in Williamsburg, 
Virginia, the week of September 22, 2001.
  Financial Women International (FWI) is a professional association of 
women working together to achieve success in the financial services 
industry. Since its creation, Financial Women International has worked 
to empower women in all segments of the financial industry to attain 
their professional, economic, and personal goals. The association 
consists of more than 8,000 members representing the United States, 
Canada, Russia, Japan, and Mexico.
  Ms. Cripe has been active in FWI since 1979, serving as President on 
the local and state levels before accepting positions at the 
international level. Aside from her work with the association, Ms. 
Cripe, is currently President and Director of OMNIBANK, N.A., where 
under her leadership the bank has grown rapidly to become one of the 
largest locally owned banks in Houston. Ms. Cripe has worked closely 
with the development of Small Business Administration loans at 
OMNIBANK, most recently closing a $25 million dollar loan on a chemical 
plant in Sherman, Texas.
  Along with serving as President and Director of OMNIBANK, N.A., Ms. 
Cripe has been very active in the Texas Bankers Association and the 
American Banking Association, particularly serving on the legislative 
and education committees. Presently, Ms. Cripe serves on the Board of 
the Education Foundation for the American Banking Association, and was 
an excellent spokesperson for the home equity bill.
  Ms. Cripe has been an exceptional leader in the community, earning 
the respect of her peers and associates in the business and civic 
communities. She has contributed to the betterment of the Houston area, 
by serving on committees at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, M. D. 
Anderson Cancer Research Center, and the March of Dimes.
  Again, I would like to take this time to congratulate Ms. Julie Ann 
Cripe on becoming Chairperson of the Board of Financial Women 
International and wish her continued success.

                          ____________________