[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 22 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1534-S1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE ``DOC'' HOWARD

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I ask my fellow colleagues 
to join me in praising the entrepreneurial spirit of Mike ``Doc'' 
Howard of Lebanon, KY. Mr. Howard was recently named the Outstanding 
Businessperson of 2001 by the Lebanon/Marion County Chamber of Commerce 
for his progressive economic vision and innovative genius.
  Doc Howard received his first lesson in economics from his Uncle 
Howard when he was just 12 years of age. Doc was put to work by his 
uncle at the Arista Theater, Lebanon Drive-In, and

[[Page S1535]]

local gas station, where he ran the projector, operated the grill, and 
pumped the gas. At a young age, Doc Howard seemed to firmly grasp the 
simple but often elusive concept of saving money in order to make 
money. This economic axiom has stuck with him ever since his days of 
flipping burgers and pumping gas.
  In the early 1970s, Howard, with the help of several business 
partners, opened a printing business and so began his career as an 
entrepreneur for Marion County. Since then, Doc has been fiscally 
involved in all of the following industries: entertainment, carpentry, 
real-estate, lumber, agriculture, produce, retail and restaurant. He 
has owned drive-ins, built houses, sold houses, owned grocery stores 
and delis, and even found time to become a farmer. Currently, Doc is 
attempting to build on his previous successes and bring even greater 
economic opportunities to the residents of Marion County. He recently 
bought the Lincoln Heritage Shopping Center, which now includes Sears, 
Dollar General, Central Kentucky Staffing, an Italian restaurant, a 
physical therapist, and a tobacco store. The people of Marion County 
will definitely benefit from these quality additions. Since the early 
1970s, Doc Howard has diligently committed his efforts to making 
Lebanon/Marion County a more attractive place to do business. He 
deserves our praise for being a pillar of capitalism.
  I congratulate Mr. Howard on his award and thank him for investing 
his time and money into the future of Marion County.

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