[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               BIRTHDAY WISHES TO ROBERT ``CY'' LAUGHTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
congratulations and best wishes to one of my dearest friends, Robert 
``Cy'' Laughter, on the upcoming occasion of his 80th birthday on July 
26, 2005. As birthdays are often a time for reflection, I think it is 
fitting to pause and pay tribute to this truly remarkable man, and 
share some of his more memorable exploits. As a devoted husband, a 
father, grandfather and great-grandfather, industrious businessman, 
philanthropist, and veteran of World War II, Cy has truly led a full 
and distinguished life.
  A life-long native of Dayton, Ohio--but to me an Honorary Hoosier--Cy 
is probably best known to his friends and neighbors as an industrialist 
and founder of the famous Bogie Busters Golf Tournament. Held for over 
35 years in Dayton Ohio this charity tournament always drew a 
distinguished list of participants including a few former U.S. 
Presidents and Vice-Presidents, Cabinet members, Members of Congress, 
governors, athletes, celebrities and national business leaders. 
Numerous organizations, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the 
Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund, the Dayton's Children's Medical Center, 
and the City of Dayton itself received invaluable financial support and 
recognition through the Bogie Busters Tournament thanks to Cy's 
extraordinary efforts.
  Over the years, Cy has given of himself in other ways, most notably 
by serving on the board of directors of Wendy's International, and as a 
trustee for Sinclair Community College and Wright State University of 
Dayton Ohio. And when President George Herbert Walker Bush called, Cy 
did not hesitate to answer that call to duty and service on the Federal 
Home Loan Board and the Battlefields and Monument Commission; just as 
Cy did not hesitate to answer his Nation's call to service during World 
War II in which he served as a U.S. Army light infantry foot soldier, 
and was awarded the Purple Heart for serious injuries sustained in 
combat during the legendary Battle of the Bulge. Cy recently came to 
Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the D-day 
invasion and listening to him talk about his experiences during the war 
it was obvious how profoundly he was changed by those events and how 
proud he is to have been a small part of saving the world from 
oppression and tyranny.
  Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to consider Cy Laughter one of my 
dearest friends, and I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Cy's lifetime of service to our Nation. I'm sure that Cy's 
family, longtime friends and colleagues will also join me in wishing 
him many more years of happiness. Happy birthday, Mr. Laughter.

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