[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PIONEER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MARY BONO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I and Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Becerra, Mr. 
McKeon, Mr. Berman, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Schiff, 
Ms. Watson, and Mr. Sherman, all from California, rise today to pay 
tribute to a good friend and an outstanding citizen, Michael Eisner, 
who will be receiving the prestigious ``Pioneer of the Year'' award 
from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation on December 4. 
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, 
Michael is exceptionally deserving of this recognition. His wise 
stewardship of this multi-national company has led to a prodigious 
enhancement of its influence, reputation and scope.
  Born in Mt. Kisco, New York to Lester and Margaret E. Eisner, Michael 
was raised in a caring environment with two successful parents as role 
models. His father was a famous litigator and public servant who at one 
time administered the Department of Housing and Urban Development. His 
mother was co-founder of the American Safety Razor Company and 
president of a medical research institute. His parents required two 
hours of reading for every hour of television and strictly rationed 
their children's consumption of sitcoms and movies.
  Michael enrolled in Denison University, initially as a pre-med 
student. He soon changed his major, however, to reflect his interest in 
English literature and the theater. A summer job as a page at NBC 
studios in New York gave him his first taste of the entertainment 
industry.
  Michael's meteoric rise to prominence in the entertainment industry 
began at ABC, where he made his mark, initially as Director of Program 
Development for the East Coast, then as Vice President for Daytime 
Programming and by 1976, as Senior Vice President for Prime Time 
Production and Development. Under his guidance, the network rose from 
third to first place among the networks.
  In 1977, he took the post of President and Chief Operating Officer of 
Paramount Pictures, where his leadership brought the studio to become 
number one in box office and profitability.
  Michael cemented his status as a leader in the entertainment industry 
in September, 1984, when he left Paramount to become Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, the position he holds to 
this day. His business acumen and strong work ethic helped him lead 
Disney through diversification and aggressive, but intelligent 
management. Under Michael's guidance, Disney grew from $1.7 billion in 
assets in 1984 to over $10 billion just ten years later.
  Eisner has strongly encouraged Disney and its employees to support 
local communities and in 1997, he committed to one million hours of 
community service, helping rebuild the burned First AME Zion church in 
South-Central Los Angeles, and establishing GOALS--a free youth hockey 
program for underprivileged youngsters in Orange County, Calif. Under 
his leadership, Disney has developed two major television events 
recognizing educators and students: Disney's American Teacher Awards 
brings together and recognizes 35 of the nation's finest teachers 
annually and Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra each year 
assembles young musicians from North America and Europe for a two-week 
music camp and an opportunity to perform at a major venue.
  Not content to be a master of diversification in the corporate 
entertainment world, Michael also serves on a number of boards of 
charitable and civic organizations. He is a trustee of the California 
Institute of the Arts (CalArts), the American Film Institute and 
Denison University, his alma mater. He is a Founding Member of the 
Points of Light Foundation. His success in the entertainment industry 
has earned him high acclaim and his work has been recognized with many 
awards and honors, including the International Radio and Television 
Society Gold Medal Award (1992) and his induction into the Academy of 
Achievement's Hall of Business (1994).
  Michael and his wife Jane are the extremely proud parents of three 
sons, Breck, Eric and Anders. The family resides in Los Angeles where 
they are well known for their generous philanthropy. The Eisner 
Foundation, which they founded in 1996 with an initial $89 million 
grant, funds children's organizations, public schools, medical and 
dental-care programs with a special emphasis on helping Southern 
Californians. The Eisner Foundation is headed by Jane Eisner.
  We feel extremely fortunate to have a person like Michael Eisner in 
our community. Southern California is a better place because of his 
willingness to give back to his community.
  Mr. Speaker, we invite our colleagues to join us in saluting Michael 
for his myriad accomplishments, and in congratulating him on being 
named the ``Pioneer of the Year'' by the Will Rogers Motion Picture 
Pioneers Foundation. We wish him continued success in all his future 
endeavors.

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