[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. GEORGE MARTI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, George Wesley Marti was born in Oak Grove, 
Texas in southern Tarrant County, the son of John and Lula Bell Marti. 
Driven by the great influence of his grandmother and fascination with 
radio, George Marti had a vision and developed a business plan at the 
young age of thirteen that involved establishing a radio station in the 
city of Cleburne, Texas.
  In 1937, three years after the original formulation of his business 
plan for a Cleburne radio station, George Marti earned his Radio 
Telephone 1st Class Operator's License and Amateur Radio License, at 
the age of sixteen. Entering the United States Marine Corps in 1942, 
George Marti later enrolled in the Radio Material School of the Naval 
Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. George Marti graduated from this 
training, in 1943, the first in his class, and proceeded to serve on 
the maiden voyage of the USS Freland, later taking command of the 
communications for Marine Air Group 13 in American Samoa.
  After being discharged in 1945, George Marti realized his vision of 
opening a radio station in Cleburne, Texas, with the on air debut of 
KCLE in April of 1947. Marti Electronics began to manufacture full time 
the Marti Remote Pickup System of his own invention that allowed 
reporters to broadcast remotely for the first time without the 
installation of telephone wires. By 1994, ``The Marti,'' was operating 
in more than 80 percent of the world's radio stations.
  George Marti established the Marti Foundation in 1988 in order to 
provide college scholarships to students of Johnson County that could 
otherwise not afford to go to college. The Marti Foundation has 
provided 551 scholarships in its 17 year history, and is currently 
supporting over 100 students at this very moment. Marti Foundation 
scholarships enjoy a 95 percent graduation rate.
  In addition to his many accomplishments as Mayor of the City of 
Cleburne, Texas from 1974 to 1986, George Marti has been named the 
National Association of Broadcasters' 1991 Engineer of the Year, in 
2002 the first inductee to the International Charolais Association Hall 
of Fame, in 2002 the first inductee to the Texas Association of 
Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.
  George Marti continues a long history of service and devotion to his 
home of Johnson County, and is a most valued and regarded citizen of 
Cleburne, Texas.
  I am proud to call George Marti my friend.

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