[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2617-E2618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING ROOSEVELT PETRY, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to recognize Mr. Roosevelt 
Petry, Jr., President and CEO of GP Industrial Contractors, Inc.
  He began his professional career as a draftsman for Bethlehem Steel, 
performing piping, mechanical, electrical, and structural drafting. He 
worked for fifteen years on electrical instrumentation, mechanical and 
pipe designing, residential, and commercial construction, and has been 
a senior designer, project engineer, project manager, and project 
superintendent. Each job garnered Mr. Petry the necessary skills for 
his company to secure massive projects such as the Toyota Center, 
Minute Maid Park, and other high profile projects around the country.
  Mr. Petry received his bachelor's degree from Lamar University in 
1997, and one year later, he founded GP Industrial Contractors. He 
partnered with an acquaintance who owned Gulf Copper Manufacturing 
Company to form a company specializing in building refineries and 
petrochemical plants. Piping, steel fabrication, carpentry, 
maintenance, and engineering, are just a few of the services his 
company offers.
  Mr. Petry attributes all of his success to God, and doesn't think 
twice about giving back to the community. With a focus on youth 
education, he shared his knowledge as an instructor at Lamar 
University, teaching AutoCAD, surveying and drafting. He and his wife 
recently donated money to create an endowment scholarship at Lamar 
State College, for nursing and engineering students in Port Arthur. 
Currently, he hosts the Roosevelt Petry, Jr. Business Hour on KSAP 
107.1--the Breeze, in Port Arthur, TX. After Hurricane Rita, Mr. 
Petry's GP Industrial Contractors were there to help the small gulf 
coast community of Sabine Pass pick up the pieces, assisting in 
rebuilding.

  He has served the community as Commissioner of the Port Arthur 
Housing Authority; Chairman of the Port Arthur Economic Development 
Corporation; Member of the Port Arthur Citizen Advisory Committee; 
Member of the National Society of Black Engineers; Board of Directors 
for Junior Achievement; and Board of Directors for the United Way. He 
also serves on the Military Academy Selection Board for our 
Congressional District.
  Over the years, Mr. Petry's hard work and community involvement have 
resulted in several honors and awards, including Score's 2007 Business 
Man of the Year Award; 2006 Port Arthur Economic Development 
Corporation's Business of the Year Award; 2004 Houston Minority 
Business Council's Emerging Ten Award; 2002 Lamar State College Port 
Arthur's Industrial Business of the Year Award; 2004 Make Ready, Inc. 
4th Annual Humanitarian Award; and he was featured in the National 
Society of Black Engineers in 2000.
  This Port Arthur native has shown that your environment and 
circumstances don't predict your future. Hard work and perseverance 
have been the lifeblood of Mr. Petry's success. Port Arthur's future is 
brighter because of Mr. Petry's continuing commitment and involvement 
in our community. Roosevelt Petry seizes the opportunities that come 
his way and has a positive attitude and zest for life.
  And that's just the way it is.

[[Page E2618]]



                          ____________________