[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 142 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO ART LOTTES III

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 1, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, one of the pleasures of being a Congressman 
is the ability to personally meet and publicly recognize individuals 
who have made positive contributions on behalf of their communities and 
business associates. One such individual with whom I have coordinated 
to better the lives of consumers and the automotive aftermarket is Art 
Lottes, III.
  Mr. Lottes and I began coordinating on legislation in 2001 that we 
believe will help motorists of all financial backgrounds, and have 
worked to continue to improve the competitive spirit of America's 
business community. That legislation is the ``Motor Vehicle Owners' 
Right to Repair Act.''
  Mr. Lottes, following years of working in his family's aftermarket 
business, A.E. Lottes Company, a Carquest distributor in St. Louis, 
Missouri, was named president of Carquest Corporation, headquartered in 
Raleigh, North Carolina, my birth State.
  During Mr. Lottes's tenure with A.E. Lottes Company, he was one of 
the founding fathers of the ``Coalition for Auto Repair Equality-
Care,'' a national organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, 
which represents companies in the automotive aftermarket and America's 
motoring consumers. He served as care's secretary-treasurer from CARE's 
founding in 1991 until 2002, when he was unanimously voted by the CARE 
Board of Directors to assume the position of CARE chairman.
  Mr. Lottes kept a ``hands-on-approach'' to Carquest store owners' and 
employees' needs, whether with A.E. Lottes Company or Carquest 
Corporation. He worked with many aftermarket companies nationwide to 
help strengthen that industry's five million-plus employee base.
  But, Mr. Lottes, always mindful that communities and business rely on 
the strengths of one another to improve the lives of all, worked for 
many years, and continues to, with the Juvenile Diabetes Association. 
He has been an active volunteer with the Triangle/Eastern North 
Carolina Chapter of the National Juvenile Diabetes Association. He has 
mobilized ``Carquest Team'' walks to help raise money for the Triangle/
Eastern North Carolina Chapter, as well as raising money within 
Carquest Corporation for this worthy cause.
  Mr. Lottes is now retiring from the Carquest Corporation and from the 
CARE Board of Directors after many years of distinguished service to 
the aftermarket. Although he is officially retiring, he will continue 
to stay involved with the many aftermarket causes which benefit 
America's small business community, and with CARE, where he will be 
missed for his wisdom and guiding hand.
  I, too, will miss coordinating with Mr. Lottes, but I know that 
whatever he endeavors, he will do so with a pure spirit and the 
continued good wishes for his fellow aftermarket associates, Carquest 
Associates and his community.
  Therefore, CARE, the aftermarket and I will not say goodbye to Mr. 
Lottes, just so long.

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