[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3562-S3563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Coburn):
  S. 775. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 123 W. 7th Street in Holdenville, OK, as the ``Boone 
Pickens Post Office''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise today to proudly introduce 
legislation to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 123 W. 7th Street in Holdenville, OK, as the ``Boone 
Pickens Post Office''.
  Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr. emulates the Oklahoma spirit of hard work, 
entrepreneurship and philanthropy. He is an excellent example of the 
potential to achieve success in our American free enterprise system. I 
honor, I proudly seek to name the post office in his hometown of 
Holdenville, OK, where he was born in 1928.
  As the son of a landman, Pickens quickly appreciated the business 
potential of oil exploration. Oklahoma State University awarded Pickens 
a bachelor of science in geology in 1951. He grew frustrated with the 
bureaucracy of working for a large company and decided to start his own 
in 1956. This company was the basis for what became one of the leading 
oil and gas exploration and production firms in the nation, Mesa 
Petroleum Company.
  Not only did Pickens lead in the energy industry itself, he possessed 
the unique ability to recognize and acquire undervalued companies. 
Repeatedly, markets eventually realized the worth of these companies, 
and shareholder profits soared.
  His innovative thinking and business skills amassed the fortune and 
wisdom he unselfishly shares with others. Oklahoma State University has 
benefited from his generous investment in academics and athletics. He 
is also a dedicated supporter of a wide range of medical research 
initiatives. He is an energetic advocate for the causes he believes in, 
devoting his time to serve on numerous boards and receiving recognition 
through countless awards.
  He often said, ``Be willing to make decisions. That's the most 
important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call 
the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome.

[[Page S3563]]

  You must be willing to fire.'' That is exactly the Oklahoma mentality 
of leadership, the ability to make tough decisions and stick to them.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation 
as we commemorate an outstanding citizen so that future generations 
will be challenged by his example, just as we have been.
                                 ______