[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JACK FINNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor my friend Jack Finney. 
Jack recently celebrated his 90th birthday by donating more than $1 
million to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District Charitable Health 
Foundation. Jack's generous donation will ultimately enhance the soon-
to-be-built cancer center on the campus of Presbyterian Hospital of 
Greenville.
  Jack has a long history of making generous gifts to the community, 
having donated land, money, and his time to a variety of institutions 
such as Texas A&M University at College Station, Audie Murphy/American 
Cotton Museum, Greenville YMCA, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Paris 
Junior College, Texas A&M University-Commerce, the Greenville schools 
and many others. Other institutions that have benefited from his 
leadership include the local Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Board of 
Development as well as Texas A&M University, the Texas Baptist 
Foundation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  Jack's efforts have led to multiple honors from Texas A&M, including 
his selection as a Distinguished Alumnus and election to the Hall of 
Honor of the A&M Corps of Cadets. Jack has also been honored with 
Greenville's ``Worthy Citizen'' Award, for which he donated $50,000 
establishing an endowment to maintain the annual award in perpetuity.
  In appreciation of Jack's latest gift, the Hospital District's Board 
of Directors have decided to name the new cancer center the Lou and 
Jack Finney Cancer Center in honor of Jack and his late wife, Lou House 
Finney. Lou and Jack were married for 68 years prior to her death in 
2005.
  During the reception honoring Jack's gift, Mayor Tom Oliver of 
Greenville proclaimed August 15th Jack Finney Day in the City of 
Greenville.
  It has been speculated that Jack's gift is the largest single gift 
that an individual has ever made to a non-profit organization in Hunt 
County, and that certainly speaks volumes about Jack's generosity. 
Having given his time, money, and energy to so many worthy causes it is 
not surprising for Jack to have celebrated his 90th birthday with so 
large and charitable a gift. The community is fortunate indeed to have 
so generous a benefactor. Jack has spent his life serving and enriching 
the community, and his latest gift only further reinforces this legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in appreciation of the 
benevolence of this fine man and my friend--Jack Finney.

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