[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 110 (Monday, July 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LONNIE ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 2010

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Lonnie Anderson, whose passion for youth in Southern and Eastern 
Kentucky has forever impacted the education and success of generations 
of families in Whitley County, Kentucky.
  Lonnie Anderson retired as the longest, consecutive-term 
superintendent to serve the Whitley County School District. Since 1991, 
Lonnie has been evaluating needs and developing solutions for the 
students, parents and staff members in the Whitley County School 
District. The programs he implemented were dedicated to much more than 
merely improving test scores. Lonnie established programs to improve 
reading not only for his students, but for their parents. He developed 
a jobs program geared specifically to students at risk of dropping out 
of school. He also opened a day care center for teen parents attending 
the middle and high schools. Lonnie understands that our students face 
much different challenges in our world today and has made a goal of 
supplying each one with the tools they need to be successful in life. 
The results of his efforts were highlighted when the Whitley County 
School District ranked as the highest performing, highest poverty 
school in Kentucky in 1997.
  Lonnie Anderson also teaches his students to be civically responsible 
by his own actions. Lonnie lends his wisdom across the region through 
his service on numerous boards and community organizations including 
the Operation UNITE Board of Directors and rallying students to 
participate in PRIDE environmental cleanups. Outside of education, 
Lonnie is also a savvy business owner. In fact, it is his 
entrepreneurial skills that turned around the Whitley County School 
District's general fund from bankruptcy at $300,000 in 1990 to $4.64 
million in 1999, moving the entire district among the top performing 
school systems in the state. The phenomenal impact he has made on the 
school district and economy of Whitley County will resound for decades.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lonnie 
Anderson for dedicating a lifetime of service to the youth and families 
of Eastern Kentucky.

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