[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JOSEPH A. PICHLER ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE KROGER COMPANY

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2004

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and 
constituent, Joseph A. Pichler, who retired on June 24, 2004 as 
Chairman of the Board of The Kroger Company, which is headquartered in 
my hometown of Cincinnati. He has been an exemplary leader in academia, 
business and our community.
  After earning an undergraduate degree from Notre Dame and a Master's 
and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, Joe taught for 15 years at 
the University of Kansas School of Business, and served as Dean for six 
years. From 1968 to 1970, he was Special Assistant to the U.S. 
Department of Labor's Assistant Secretary for Manpower.
  Joe has had a truly extraordinary business career, bringing energy, 
hard work and leadership to every assignment. Before his election as 
Kroger's Chairman, Joe served the company as Chief Executive Officer; 
President and Chief Operating Officer; and Executive Vice President. 
Joe joined Dillon Companies in 1980 as Executive Vice President, and 
was elected to Kroger's Board of Directors when Dillon merged with 
Kroger in 1983.
  Joe has pursued community service in our area with equal enthusiasm. 
He heads the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation's (3CDC) 
working group that created a new development strategy for Cincinnati's 
Washington Park area. For many years, Joe and his wife, Susan, have 
volunteered in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood near Kroger's 
headquarters building, and we worked together on the new National 
Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
  Last year, Joe asked me to help craft a legislative solution that 
would allow Cincinnati's ``One Stop'' Employment Center to continue 
serving clients in the Over-the-Rhine area. Since then, other Ohio 
counties have received similar legislative assistance. Joe's role in 
keeping these key job training facilities open cannot be overstated.
  All of us in Cincinnati congratulate Joe on his retirement from 
Kroger and wish him the best in the new challenges ahead.




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