[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATER PENSACOLA CHAMBER OF 
                                COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 125th 
anniversary of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. All across 
our Nation, local Chambers of Commerce play vital roles in supporting 
economic growth and development throughout their communities, and the 
Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce exemplifies this proud tradition.
  The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce's impressive history dates 
back 125 years to its first meeting on September 16, 1889, where a 
small group of business leaders got together at the Pensacola Opera 
House to form the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. At their first 
meeting, they elected the Pensacola-area railroad magnate and future 
State Senator, William Dudley Chipley to serve as their first Chairman. 
The Chamber represented a wide variety of professions and local 
businesses, and it quickly proved its worth to the community, helping 
to grow the Port of Pensacola into the largest in Florida by 1900. 
Thanks to this prosperity and the tireless work of the Chamber, many 
new and important corporations were started in the Pensacola area.
  By the turn of the century, the Chamber had also established a strong 
military affairs component, linking the Pensacola-area business 
community to Northwest Florida's growing military installations. In 
fact, the Chamber's leadership helped lobby for new defense activities 
during the 1898 Spanish-American War. Over the years, the Chamber has 
served as a key component driving Pensacola's transition from a small 
Navy Yard to the Cradle of Naval Aviation.
  Meanwhile, during the early 20th century, the Chamber also brought 
together the business community and local city and county officials to 
help upgrade Pensacola's local infrastructure to meet the needs of a 
growing population and economy. Thanks to the work of the Chamber, 
local leaders, and the broader Pensacola community, the entire 
Pensacola area grew from a small town with no paved roads and few 
utilities to a world-class city that is home to tens of thousands of 
residents, countless successful businesses, and millions of visitors 
each year.
  Over the years, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce has grown 
with the surrounding Pensacola community. From its humble beginnings 
125 years ago, as a small group of civic leaders with no full-time 
staff, the Chamber has grown immensely and today the Greater Pensacola 
Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,200 members working on a 
daily basis to help bring world-class economic development projects to 
benefit Northwest Florida's businesses and citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress I am proud to 
congratulate the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce on its 
incredibly successful 125-year history and look forward to another 125 
years of success and prosperity.

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