[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ERNIE WISSINGER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ernie 
Wissinger for earning the Blair County Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime 
Achievement Award for Business Advocacy. Mr. Wissinger is the first 
ever to receive this award and set a high standard of excellency for 
other entrepreneurs to follow.
  Mr. Wissinger resides in Blair County, Pennsylvania where he owned 
and operated a retail grocery store for 42 years. In addition to 
focusing on his own business, he was always available to assist others 
within the business community. By lending a helping hand where one was 
needed, he has played a crucial part in helping to make Blair County 
businesses thrive and grow. For years he took it upon himself to act as 
an unofficial ambassador and advocate for the people and the businesses 
of Blair County whenever he traveled across Pennsylvania or to other 
states.
  In addition to being an insightful businessman he is also a generous 
volunteer. Mr. Wissinger provided financial support to organizations 
such as Easter Seals, the Altoona Area Public Library, and the Altoona 
Campus of Penn State to name just a few. In addition to donating 
resources, he donated his time to the Blair County youth. His 
involvement in volunteering for community organizations has made a 
positive impact on those around him. Blair County is a better place 
because of Ernie Wissinger's professional and personal investments in 
his community.
  I congratulate Mr. Wissinger on all his business accomplishes and 
thank him for his involvement in the local community. By being the 
first to receive this award Mr. Wissinger set a standard for 
businessmen and women to strive to achieve. This award signals that he 
began a tradition of excellence that will be hard to duplicate. 
President George W. Bush, in his last State of the Union Address, 
challenged all of us to give two years or 4,000 hours of service over 
our lifetimes. If the President were here today I am positive he would 
shake Mr. Wissinger's hand and hold him up as an example for others to 
follow. I, too, would like to encourage others to follow in Mr. 
Wissinger's footsteps by being active volunteers and thoughtful 
entrepreneurs. One person can impact a community in many wonderful 
ways, and Blair County's example is Ernie Wissinger. I wish him the 
very best of luck in the years to come.

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