[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARGARET McMILLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2007

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret McMillan 
for greatly enriching the community of Southern Nevada with a lifetime 
of service as an exemplary leader and businesswoman.
  Margaret is retiring after having served the telecommunications 
industry for over 47 years. Throughout her tremendous career she served 
as a pioneer for women in business. In 1972 she became the first woman 
to hold the position of Outside Plant Engineer, a position that is now 
staffed approximately 20% by women. During her time as Staff Engineer 
of Centel in Chicago she participated in the design of the company's 
first fiber optics system which was run from the Las Vegas central 
office to the MGM Hotel and Casino. In 1979 she was promoted to Outside 
Plant Engineer Manager in Las Vegas where she supervised the design and 
installation of all outside plant facilities in the Las Vegas area.
  Along with being a pioneer for women in the telecommunications 
industry, Margaret's immense talents and work ethic were recognized and 
she rose through the ranks of several companies, eventually becoming 
the Director of Governmental Affairs in Las Vegas for the EMBARQ 
Company. In that position she has been instrumental in the development 
of many prominent pieces of legislation, including both the state and 
federal versions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
  Margaret's accomplishments as a professional are bolstered by her 
contributions to the Las Vegas community. She has served two terms as 
president of the Nevada Telecommunications Association, is a member of 
the Las Vegas Southwest Rotary Club, has served as area Governor of 
Toastmasters International and is a member of the Las Vegas Chamber of 
Commerce. Her work with these organizations has been extremely well 
recognized and she has been the recipient of many awards such as the 
Chamber of Commerce's Community Achievement Award. Margaret also 
received the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow Citizen of 
Distinction Award in 2007. She is also listed in the book 
``Distinguished Women of Nevada.''
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Margaret McMillan. Her aptitude 
and work ethic have made her a beloved fixture in the Las Vegas 
community and her reputation as a pioneer for professional women is 
well deserved. I wish her the utmost happiness in her retirement and 
thank her for a lifetime of service.