[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO WYNN PRESSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding 
leader of the Kansas City community, Mr. F. Wynn Presson, who will 
retire as Vice Chairman of the Board of Health Midwest, on November 30, 
2001.
  Wynn has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Health Midwest since 
1993; prior to that he served as President and Chief Executive Officer. 
Health Midwest employs over 17,000 people, and has over 100 care/
delivery sites, including 15 hospitals with over 3,295 licensed beds. 
The system has 40 primary care physician practices employing over 150 
physicians, 8 occupational medicine clinics, and 60 corporations. The 
Health Midwest system links together acute and ambulatory care, 
physician affiliations, education, occupational health, mental health, 
long term care, contracted clinical and support services, wellness and 
fitness, and patient transportation systems. Wynn Presson was the 
founder and visionary of the Health Midwest system, having served for a 
total of 24 years with Health Midwest and its predecessor 
organizations.
  Just as important, though, is the literally thousands of hours that 
Wynn Presson has devoted to serving our community and the entire Kansas 
City metropolitan area during his 24 years with us. The list of his 
current community leadership positions is impressive: member of the 
Blue Valley School District Educational Foundation; member of the 
Executive Committee [and former Chairman of the Board of Directors] of 
the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City; Chairman-elect of the 
Board of Directors of the Full Employment Council; member of the Board 
of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Greater Kansas City 
Sports Commission; member of the Executive Committee and the Board of 
Directors of the Labor-Management Council; Co-Chairman of the Board of 
Directors of the Mayor's Corps of Progress; and member of the Board of 
Directors of the Minority Suppliers Council, among others.
  Equally as important and valuable have been Wynn Presson's 
contributions to the Kansas City area in years past, through his 
dedicated service in positions including: former Chairman of the Board 
of the Greater Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce; President of the 
Board of Directors of the Kansas City Club; member of the Board of 
Directors of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City; Colonel in the 
Kansas Cavalry; member of the Executive Committee of the Kansas City 
Area Development Council; Co-Chairman of the Public Policy Committee of 
the Mainstream Coalition; and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 
Midwest Bioethics Center.
  Mr. Speaker, Wynn Presson is an excellent example of the kind of 
public-spirited, community-minded citizen who does so much to foster 
our communities. As this far-from-complete listing of his many public 
service activities demonstrates, he has been a vital participant in 
countless civic and charitable activities in the Kansas City 
metropolitan area. I commend him for his distinguished record of 
performance with Health Midwest and for his peerless history of 
community service.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with my constituents in Kansas' Third District in 
wishing Wynn Presson an enjoyable and most well-earned retirement, 
although I anticipate he will not shirk from further opportunities to 
be of service.

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