[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING CHRIS HAUCK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SUNFLOWER ELECTRIC POWER 
                              CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding businessman, and a man who is proud to be a ``Kansan by 
choice,'' Chris Hauck.
  On June 1, Chris will retire from his position as president and CEO 
of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation in Hays, Kansas. His retirement 
feels like the end of an era, but if I know Chris, it is only the 
beginning of a whole new chapter in his life, a chapter that will be 
full of time spent with loved ones, and time given to the community.
  Although Chris is not a native Kansan, he soon realized that Hays is 
a place where he could raise his family, be active in the community, 
and put his business talents to good use. I have known Chris Hauck 
since his arrival in Hays. As soon as he took charge, Chris began 
leading Sunflower Electric into a new era of financial success. Through 
an intensive reorganization of the company's debt structure and an 
aggressive marketing campaign, Sunflower Electric has seen a 152 
percent increase in sales to member electric systems.
  Chris has been active in his industry, aside from his formal duties 
at Sunflower Electric. He is a past president of the Western Fuels 
Association, and is still a member of its board of directors. He is 
also a past president of the Greening Earth Society. Chris co-founded 
the Western Power Producers, a regional coalition of western 
cooperative utilities, and served as its president for a time. He has 
also been involved in both the MOKAN and Southwest Power Pools, and the 
National G & T Manager's Association Technical Advisory Committee.
  This man's influence and expertise has influenced his industry on the 
global level as well. Chris served on the National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association's Global Climate Task Force. During his time on 
the task force, Chris was part of a committee that, in 1993, influenced 
the United National Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
  Apart from his professional life, Chris is deeply involved in prison 
ministry. He travels weekly to Ellsworth Correctional Facility along 
with his wife, Rita. Rita and Chris recruit inmates to participate in 
the Prison Fellowship Ministries' Inner Change Freedom Initiative. The 
Haucks believe wholeheartedly in the prison ministry, and I commend 
them for their devotion to bringing God's word to the inmates in 
Ellsworth.
  Not only has Chris brought Sunflower Electric to new heights, and not 
only has he spent countless hours giving the gift of faith to Kansas 
inmates, but Chris Hauck is also a great family man. Chris and Rita are 
the proud parents of two remarkable sons, Les and Christian. Both of 
these young men are graduates of the United States Air Force Academy. 
Les, now a captain, has returned from the Persian Gulf and continues to 
serve his country at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona as an F-16 
instructor pilot. Christian, a first lieutenant, is based in Atlanta, 
Georgia. In addition to serving as a hospital facilities engineer, 
Christian plays on the United States Combined Armed Forces Rugby Team. 
Later this year. Chris will be joining his son, and the team, to travel 
with them as a videographer.

  Chris Hauck has been many things to many people. At one time, he was 
a big-city guy. Now, he is a self-proclaimed ``Kansan by choice.'' In 
his words, Kansans, ``have much to be thankful for, and little to 
complain about.'' I know I am certainly thankful for Chris--for his 
contributions to the western Kansas economy, for his commitment to 
ministering, and for his friendship. Thank you, Chris, for your 
service. I wish you all the best in your retirement.

                          ____________________