[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FRANK B. SOLLARS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2007

  Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an honorable 
lifelong farmer, fine American and dear friend who made significant 
contributions to the agricultural community for our nation.
  Frank Sollars was born in 1921 in Concord Township, Ohio to Walter 
Eugene and Mabel Blanche Bowers Sollars and graduated from Washington 
High School in 1939.
  Although he was a farmer by profession, Frank was also a leader in 
agricultural cooperatives, the insurance business and agricultural 
financing. As an International Cooperative Alliance Central Committee 
member, Frank hosted delegations from Russia, Poland, Hungary, 
Czechoslovakia, China, Japan, and Taiwan on the farm. Frank served as 
president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Federation of 
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Ohio Agricultural 
Marketing Association. He served as a board member of the American Farm 
Bureau Federation, the American Agricultural Marketing Association and 
served on the Board of Governors of the National Agricultural Hall of 
Fame. He was a board member on the first Soil Conservation Service 
Board in Fayette County for ten years and was chairman for five years.
  Frank held numerous leadership roles in the finance industry 
including Chairman of the Board of Nationwide Insurance, Chairman of 
the Board of the National Cooperative Business Association, a director 
of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Ohio Consumers council 
and a director of the Fifth Third Bank of Columbus. He served on the 
Federal Reserve Bank Advisory Committee and was instrumental in 
establishing the National Cooperative Bank in Washington, D.C. where he 
served as Board Chairman from 1980-1998 after being appointed by 
Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush.
  Commonly referred to as the ``Founding Father of the National 
Cooperative Banks,'' Frank was awarded the Stanley W. Dreyer Spirit of 
Cooperation Award in 2006 for his commitment and dedication to banking. 
In recognition of Frank as an international cooperative mentor, The 
Frank B. Sollars Fund for International Cooperation was established in 
1998.
  Locally, Frank was a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau, 
Fayette County Agronomy Committee and Agronomy Club, and the Concord 
Township Farm Bureau Advisory Council. He served as board member of the 
American Red Cross of Greater Columbus representing Fayette County and 
was a trustee of the Southern State Community College Foundation. Frank 
served on the board as chairman of the Fayette County Bank and Sollars 
Brothers Corporation.
  Frank received numerous honors throughout his life including being 
inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame, Fayette Agricultural 
Hall of Fame, National Cooperative Business Association Hall of Fame 
and the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Hall of Fame. He received the 
Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Farm Bureau and was named the 
Outstanding Young Farmer by the Ohio Jaycees in 1956.
  Although Frank has been recognized for numerous honors, he always 
believed his family was his greatest accomplishment. Frank gave many 
years of his life to improve and promote the agricultural industry he 
loved, because he truly believed it was his duty to serve his family 
and his country. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church.
  A devout public servant, Frank was a man of honor and compassion. On 
behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family and gratitude 
for all he did to improve agriculture for our nation. His service and 
friendship will be missed by all.

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