[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           JOHN PEPPER HONORED AS A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JEAN SCHMIDT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Pepper, an 
international business leader, visionary, community activist and 
champion of education, who will be formally honored as a Great Living 
Cincinnatian on February 16 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of 
Commerce.
  The Chamber has bestowed this award on distinguished members of the 
community annually since 1967. Recipients of this prestigious award are 
chosen on the basis of professional achievement, community service, 
leadership, compassion, and vision. Past honorees have included Neil 
Armstrong, Dr. Albert Sabin and Charles Scripps.
  Mr. Pepper has inspired and impacted the lives of people in our 
community and across the globe. Throughout his career, he has led, 
trained and motivated people by his example.
  In his 39-year career at Procter & Gamble, Mr. Pepper helped to shape 
one of the world's largest consumer products companies. He began with 
the company in 1963. In 1974, he became general manager of Procter & 
Gamble Italia, and in 1980, he became group vice president. In 1984, he 
was elected to the company's board of directors and, in 1986, became 
president. In the early 1990s, he led Procter & Gamble's expansion into 
Eastern and Central Europe and Greater China. Mr. Pepper was named 
chairman and chief executive in 1995. He retired from Procter & Gamble 
in 2002, and retired as chairman of the executive committee of the 
board in 2003. Following his service to Procter & Gamble, he served for 
two years as vice president for Finance and Administration at Yale 
University, his alma mater.
  Mr. Pepper recently became chief executive officer of the National 
Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. This role is 
especially fitting for him, since he has been instrumental in the 
creation of the Freedom Center and co-chair of its development effort.
  Mr. Pepper has also dedicated his time, energy and leadership to 
improving education for our children. He has served as a hands-on 
leader for school reform, pushing schools across the socioeconomic 
spectrum to set higher standards. He was also a driving force, along 
with his wife, Francie, in the creation of the Cincinnati Youth 
Collaborative, a nationally recognized program that provides youth 
employment, mentoring and tutoring for those in need. He currently 
serves as the Collaborative's vice chair.
  In 1994, Mr. Pepper chaired Cincinnati's United Way campaign, and has 
served on numerous local and national boards, including the American 
Society of Corporate Executives, the Partnership for a Drug-Free 
America, the Partnership for Public Service and the National Campaign 
to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the National Alliance of Business, Xavier 
University, the American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, the 
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
  Mr. Pepper and his wife, Francie, have three sons and one daughter, 
and reside in the Cincinnati suburb of Wyoming.
  All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate John Pepper on being 
named a Great Living Cincinnatian.

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