[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 141 (Wednesday, October 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO JOE HUBER OF STARLIGHT, INDIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARON P. HILL

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, to the people of southern Indiana, Joe Huber 
is well-known as both a restaurateur and farmer. To his friends and 
family, Joe is a loving father and husband, equally devoted to his 
community. Among the long list of Joe's noteworthy accomplishments, I 
would especially like to comment on his long and devoted leadership of 
the Harrison County local rural electric cooperative--Harrison REMC, 
where Joe has served on the Board of Directors since 1974.
  As Joe prepares to retire from the cooperative board, I would like to 
share with my fellow colleagues in the House just a few of the many 
important contributions Joe has made to Indiana rural electrification 
over the past three decades.
  Joe is a remarkably driven individual, always willing to jump into a 
cause wholeheartedly to ensure success. This legacy of dedication was 
evident the moment Joe decided to run for a seat on the REMC board. 
Going beyond the usual lobbying required of a board candidate, Joe 
actually packed school busses full of his friends, neighbors, and 
supporters from across the community, and transported them to the 
Harrison REMC board meeting to vote for him. And, to nobody's 
surprise--he won.
  Since his election, Joe has been able to lend his foresight and 
influence to the co-op through a period of unprecedented expansion. 
Harrison REMC nearly tripled the number of electric meters during his 
tenure. To this day, the REMC's growth-and its sterling service to its 
customers-continues.

  Like any other well-established organization that has climbed the 
ladder of success, the co-op has had its share of difficult moments. 
Yet, true to character, Joe displayed his resolve during these trying 
times by maintaining an open and optimistic mind, working hard to help 
the co-op find new solutions, new ways of thinking, and new promising 
directions to take as it continued to meet the needs of the community 
it served.
  Just a few years ago, one of the worst scenarios for a rural electric 
utility struck Harrison County as a terrible ice storm swept through 
the region. Joe Huber decisively, and humbly, stepped to the fore to 
lead the effort to restore service throughout the county. He led crews 
among downed power lines and helped direct crews from outside the 
region navigate unfamiliar terrain in terrible conditions. He 
coordinated food and care for the hardworking crews so they could 
maintain a level of comfort while concentrating on the quick 
restoration of power.
  Joe's leadership has extended well beyond Harrison REMC. He has 
served as a board member for the rural electric trade group Indiana 
Statewide, as well as having been on the board of directors of the 
Cooperative Finance Corporation--the influential national financial 
organization within the rural electric industry. Joe has been called 
upon by the National Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives to 
serve on blue ribbon panels, speak at seminars, and share his wisdom 
and insight with other representatives of rural utility companies from 
around the country.
  Joe Huber has long been an individual of integrity, perseverance, and 
distinction in southern Indiana. He has always placed his family and 
his community first in his heart, and demonstrated to the people of 
southern Indiana his unwavering values through his actions.
  As Joe ends his career on the board of Harrison REMC, it is fitting 
that we take these moments to congratulate him on his lifetime of hard 
work and good deeds, and recognize that he has established an enduring 
legacy in the realm of Indiana rural electric programs.




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