[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 78 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN LASTING MEMORY OF GEORGE DUNKLIN, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2007

  Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. 
George Dunklin, Sr., who passed away May 5, 2007, in Pine Bluff, AR, at 
the age of 89.
  Mr. Dunklin had two passions in life--farming and tennis. After 
serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to Arkansas 
where he helped run the family business, Planters Cotton Oil Mill, 
until he retired in 2005 as president after 66 years. He was the 1975 
president of the National Cottonseed Association, Member of the Cotton 
Advisory Committee to the U.S. Agriculture Department Secretary and he 
received the 1990 Harvey W. McGeorge Award for Distinguished Service to 
Agriculture, among other honors.
  When Mr. Dunklin was not working on behalf of farmers across the 
country, he could be found on the tennis court. His love for the sport 
of tennis took him around the world. Not only was he the Arkansas State 
Men's Tennis Champion a record nine times, but he also played in two 
Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open and the U.S. Open. Mr. Dunklin 
was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Tennis 
Hall of Fame and was a past president of the Arkansas Tennis 
Association.
  Mr. Dunklin was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Pine 
Bluff, where he served as deacon and Sunday School teacher. He was a 
member and past president of the Pine Bluff Rotary Club and past 
president of the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce. He was the director of 
Simmons First National Corporation in Pine Bluff and he served as 
chairman of the Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.
  My deepest condolences go to Mr. Dunklin's wife, Mary Elisabeth 
``Lib'' Black Dunklin of Pine Bluff; his daughter Deborah Tipton of 
Memphis, TN; his son George Dunklin, Jr. of DeWitt; his two brothers 
William Dunklin of Pine Bluff and Louis Dunklin of Dallas, TX; and to 
his 5 grandchildren. Mr. George Dunklin, Sr., will be greatly missed in 
Pine Bluff, Jefferson County and throughout the State of Arkansas.

                          ____________________