[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 178 (Monday, December 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING RICHARD ``DICK'' FREELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 16, 2013

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and salute a 
distinguished Hoosier, Richard ``Dick'' Freeland, who passed away on 
October 20, 2013. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and 
appreciation for his leadership and service to the people of Indiana.
  Mr. Freeland was a Nevada native and Iowa transplant who later moved 
his family to Indiana to pursue the American Dream. He started his 
career as an ironworker in Iowa who worked on Atlas rocket sites 
throughout the Midwest. In 1967, Mr. Freeland started a part-time job 
working for Pizza Hut for $1.25 an hour. He eventually worked his way 
up to store manager, area manager, and part-owner in an Iowa Pizza Hut 
franchise.
  Mr. Freeland moved his wife and young family to Fort Wayne, Indiana, 
in 1972 and opened their first Pizza Hut franchise. Over the next 40-
plus years, the business grew to include 48 Pizza Hut locations in 
Indiana and Ohio as well as four Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. 
His knowledge and business acumen was so well respected by the 
corporate office that he was asked to travel to Poland to advise the 
Pizza Hut team on improving their operations. Soon after, he became a 
partner in those Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in 
Poland and the Czech Republic.
  Mr. Freeland sought to hire high-quality employees, train them well 
and empower them to make decisions for the benefit of themselves, the 
customer and the business. In his free time, he was involved in local, 
state and national politics and enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, 
and breeding Arabian horses at Freeland Farms. Mr. Freeland was a 
member of numerous corporate and charitable organization boards and 
served as the regional finance chairman of Bush/Quayle campaign in 
1992.
  Mr. Freeland left his loving wife, Deanna, two children, six 
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
  Mr. Freeland's legacy demonstrates the promise of hard work and the 
extraordinary opportunities afforded to the individual by liberty and 
American free enterprise. Dick's story should serve as an example to 
millions of young Americans. Through hard work and perseverance, the 
American Dream can be realized. There are very few places in the world 
today where a part time hourly worker, through his own toil and 
dedication, can not only be promoted to management, but build an 
empire. And then use his success for the betterment of our nation and 
his fellow man. Mr. Freeland's life and story are a testament to the 
unlimited potential of every individual, our great nation, and 
America's bright future. America is quite exceptional indeed.
  Rest in peace my friend, and thank you for your example and 
leadership.

                          ____________________