[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 137 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO TERRY E. FORCHT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
the leading businessmen and entrepreneurs from the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky. Terry E. Forcht is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the 
Forcht Group of Kentucky and was honored to be named the ``Knox County 
Chamber 2014 Man of the Year'' in recognition of his success in 
business and his contributions to the community.
  Terry was born and bred in my hometown of Louisville, KY. Like me, 
Terry attended the University of Louisville for his undergraduate 
studies. He also obtained his law degree from the UofL Brandeis School 
of Law and subsequently left the Commonwealth to obtain his MBA from 
the University of Miami in Florida.
  Terry would not leave Kentucky for long, however. He returned in 1964 
to serve as a chairman of the Commerce Department at Cumberland 
College--now the University of the Cumberlands--and 3 years later he 
started his own law practice in Corbin, KY.
  In 1972, Terry bought the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Corbin--an 
acquisition that is widely considered to be the first piece of what 
would eventually become the Forcht Group of Kentucky. This initial 
purchase has grown into what is now called First Corbin Long Term Care 
and consists of nine health and rehabilitation centers in the region.
  In 1972, Terry also became heavily involved in community banking. He 
was appointed to the board of directors of Corbin Deposit Bank and 
Trust Company, and as his interest and expertise in the industry grew, 
he founded Tri-County National Bank with a group of investors in 1985. 
As with his nursing home acquisition, this community bank quickly 
prospered and grew. Today there are 30 Forcht Bank locations in 
Kentucky with total assets of over $1 billion.
  Mr. Forcht has grown his company over the years into a sprawling 
enterprise that employs over 2,100 people. The Forcht Group currently 
consists of 22 radio stations, 19 finance company offices, 2 insurance 
companies, 2 newspapers, a pharmacy and diagnostic lab, a retail 
furniture and gift store, a construction company, real estate, and 
several other small businesses.
  Outside of his business, Terry still manages to find time to stay 
involved in his community. Although he is no longer a practicing 
lawyer, he is still a member of the Whitley County and Kentucky Bar 
Associations. In the past he has been president of the Whitley County 
Republican Party and has run for a seat in the U.S. House of 
Representatives. He also currently serves on the board of directors of 
the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Economic Development 
Board.
  Terry's success in business has also allowed him and his wife Marion 
to pursue their passion for philanthropy. They are both active members 
of Grace on the Hill Methodist Church and have generously donated large 
sums of their hard-earned money to the University of Louisville, the 
University of the Cumberlands, and to the University of Kentucky. Many 
generations of Kentuckians will undoubtedly find new opportunities open 
to them because of Terry and Marion's contributions to education in the 
State.
  The Knox County Chamber 2014 Man of the Year Award is a fitting 
tribute to a man who has contributed so much to his community. Terry's 
entrepreneurial zeal and commitment to furnishing quality higher 
education in his State set a glowing example for us all. Therefore, I 
ask that my U.S. Senate colleagues join me in honoring this exemplary 
citizen.

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