[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E78]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING LYLE EVERINGHAM AS A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and 
constituent, Lyle Everingham, who will be honored by the Greater 
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce on February 20 as a Great Living 
Cincinnatian. The recipients of this prestigious award are selected on 
the basis of special achievement in the world of work, but the criteria 
also includes an awareness of the needs of others; civic service; 
leadership; and distinctive accomplishments.
  Lyle Everingham's success is a classic American story of ``working 
your way to the top.'' Fresh from a tour of duty with the U.S. Army in 
the South Pacific, twenty-one year old Lyle applied for a temporary 
position stocking shelves at a Kroger store in Adrian, Michigan. He 
thought it would be a nice summer job until school started that fall. 
Instead, he stayed on with the company, and decades later, oversaw the 
Kroger Company's entire operation--retiring as Chairman of the Board in 
1991. Along the way, he assumed greater responsibility--as store 
manager, district manager, general district manager and manager of 
operations. He served as manager of merchandising in the company's 
Toledo Division, and it was there that he sharpened his administrative 
skills. Under Lyle's leadership, Kroger became one of the nation's 
largest food chains and retained its ownership, fending off a hostile 
takeover attempt by two out-of-town investors. He consistently 
championed innovative ideas to improve the customer's experience--such 
as incorporating bank branches right into the Kroger store.
  Kroger is truly all in the family for the Everinghams. Lyle's 
brother, Bob, four sisters, mother and wife Rlene have all worked for 
Kroger. Rlene and Lyle have three children and six grandchildren.
  Lyle's volunteer activities are many. He led the first capital 
campaign for Hospice of Cincinnati and the second capital campaign for 
St. Rita's School for the Deaf. He served on the Smale Infrastructure 
Commission, the Buenger Education Commission, and was active in United 
Way. A past president of the Commercial Club and a past co-chair of the 
Cincinnati Business Committee, Lyle also served as a trustee of the 
University of Cincinnati and on the board of Bethesda, Inc.
  All of us in the Cincinnati area salute Lyle Everingham as he is 
recognized as a Great Living Cincinnatian.

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