[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 81 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MR. PHIL LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 10, 2013

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Phil Lewis, 
and to congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Lewis is an outstanding 
individual who has served as executive editor of the Naples Daily News 
since 1997.
   Mr. Lewis began his journalism career in Washington Court House, 
Ohio, as a sports editor and city editor of the Record-Herald. His 
career with the Naples Daily News however began in 1978, when he joined 
the paper as a reporter. His stellar work as a reporter earned him a 
quick promotion to city editor. From there he became managing editor of 
the newspaper in 1989, a position he held for eight years. Finally, in 
1997 he was promoted to editor.
   Under his leadership the Naples Daily News, and its employees, have 
been recognized locally, at the state level, and nationally. The paper 
has received numerous awards during Mr. Lewis' time as editor, and has 
developed a national reputation for excellence. For example, in 2003 
the paper was given the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for 
environmental reporting with ``Gulf in Peril'', a 15-part series 
documenting the declining health of the Gulf of Mexico. In 2006 the 
newspaper's website received Editor & Publisher's EPpy Award when it 
was named Best Internet News Service under 1 million unique monthly 
visitors.
   Having known Mr. Lewis for a little over a decade, I know that he 
has consistently demonstrated the highest degree of integrity. He has 
been dedicated to his profession and has worked tirelessly to ensure 
thorough, fair, and insightful news reporting. The employees and 
subscribers to the Naples Daily News have truly been lucky to have such 
an exceptional editor heading their newspaper.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Phil Lewis for his 
tremendous service to Naples, and the Naples Daily News and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

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