[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6396-S6397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KEN CROCKETT

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 
decade-plus of

[[Page S6397]]

service that Ken Crockett has dedicated to the State of West Virginia. 
For the last 11 years, Ken has served as the director of the West 
Virginia Japan Office in Nagoya, which sits in the Aichi Prefecture of 
Japan.
  West Virginia has opened trade offices throughout the world in order 
to encourage economic relationships with our State. The Japan Office 
has helped draw a number of Japanese businesses to open new locations 
in West Virginia, as well as helped the businesses already in West 
Virginia export their products to Japan. In addition to the economic 
benefits of this relationship, the Japan office has facilitated a 
number of cultural and educational exchanges--all under Ken's 
leadership.
  In Ken's years as director of the West Virginia Japan Office, our 
State and Japan have seen a dramatic, if not astronomical, rise in 
their economic relations. West Virginia is currently home to 19 
Japanese companies that have created thousands of direct and indirect 
jobs for our State's citizens. Japanese investors have been, and 
continue to be, outstanding corporate citizens of West Virginia--
contributing economically and culturally to the quality of the State.
  I have seen Ken's work firsthand on a number of occasions in Japan on 
trade missions with various Governors. Ken's relationships and his 
presence in Nagoya have been very valuable for our development efforts. 
He operated with a strong dedication to our collective goals and an 
understanding of both Japan and West Virginia.
  Very soon, Ken will be embarking on a new career with NGK Spark 
Plugs--West Virginia's first major Japanese investor--and a trailblazer 
for our State's Japanese automotive industry. Ken will bring to that 
job the same determination, commitment, and hard work ethic he brought 
to the State's economic development efforts. We look forward to working 
with him in his new position as we continue to strengthen our ties with 
our State's existing Japanese investors.
  Mr. President, I thank the Senate and ask that my colleagues join me 
in recognizing Ken's service to my State and wish him the best in his 
future endeavors.

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