[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E303-E304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO E. L. ``BERT'' POOSER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2002

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to E. L. 
``Bert'' Pooser, of South Carolina, a renowned man and respected leader 
of hotel development and management throughout the southeastern United 
States.
  Mr. Pooser grew up in Orangeburg, SC, during the 1940s where he 
learned the value and need of hard work at an early age. He invested in 
his first hotel at the age of 28. Since then, his hotel empire has 
expanded to 33 hotels throughout six southeastern States. Many in the 
industry consider him a hotel giant.
  Currently, Mr. Pooser is president and CEO of Interstate Management 
and Investment Corporation (IMIC) hotels. Mr. Pooser's company includes 
1,500 employees that handle all aspects of the business from sales and 
marketing, to a design and property management team. IMIC assets 
include Sheraton Hotels, Hampton Inns, Comfort Inns, and Quality 
Suites. Throughout IMIC's 20 years of existence, they have purchased or 
built nearly 40 hotels. This past year, Mr. Pooser's firm opened two 
more hotels in Myrtle Beach, SC.
  Mr. Pooser has received numerous awards during his building career. 
The University of South Carolina's School of Hotel, Restaurant and 
Tourism Management has honored him as the Hospitality Leader of the 
Year. Today, at 63, Mr. Pooser has no plans for retirement anytime 
soon.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me today in honoring 
Mr. E. L. ``Bert''

[[Page E304]]

Pooser for his achievements and commitments to the hotel industry in 
the southeastern States. I sincerely thank Mr. Pooser for his 
outstanding contributions, and congratulate him on becoming a recipient 
of the 2002 South Carolina Hospitality Leader of the Year Award, and 
wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

                          ____________________