[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING COLONEL CHARLES E. POWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2015

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dear friend and 
constituent, Colonel Charles E. Powell. Charles is being honored this 
week by the Texas Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts as their 
Distinguished Citizen of the Year.
   Charles was born in Nashville, Arkansas on May 7, 1931. After 
finishing high school, Charles was accepted into the United States 
Naval Academy in July of 1950 and graduated with distinction on June 4, 
1954. That day, he commissioned into the United States Air Force.
   Shortly after his commission, Charles became an Air Force pilot and 
logged over 7000 flying hours. During the Vietnam War, he logged over 
700 combat flying hours as a Rescue C-130 commander and is credited 
with fourteen combat saves. After the war, Charles served in many 
different leadership roles throughout the Air Force. In 1980, he was 
tasked to be the base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San 
Angelo, TX. At the time, Goodfellow was scheduled to be closed and it 
was Charles' job to prevent the base from being closed. He began 
working with local community leaders and assisted in shaping a new 
military mission for Goodfellow Air Force Base. Today, Charles' impacts 
can still be felt at Goodfellow Air Force Base, as it serves as a 
training school for thousands of service members from across all 
branches to train in cryptology, intelligence, and firefighting. 
Charles' dedication and leadership helped save a community that many 
veterans have come to love and adopt as their own home.
   After his decorated military career, Charles continued to serve San 
Angelo as a leader. Charles went on to serve as vice president of the 
Southwest Bank, known today as First Financial Bank. In addition to 
serving as VP of the Southwest Bank, Charles created and directed the 
SWB Investment Center Inc. He served as the Chairman, President, and 
CEO of the Center until he retired in 1995. From there, Charles served 
on a variety of community service based boards such as the San Angelo 
Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Tom Green County and Texas, the 
Fort Conch Historical Society, the San Angelo City Council, among many 
more.
   Throughout the years, Charles has been supported by his loving wife 
Joanne. Joanne has assisted my constituents in my San Angelo office 
during my entire tenure. Joanne is also an instrumental figure in 
assisting with our annual military service academy nominations, which 
is a year round process for her. With Joanne's assistance, many of the 
young men and women in our district go on to serve our nation and 
attend one of our distinguished service academies. Charles and Joanne's 
support and dedication to this effort have made them very special 
pieces to my team. I am truly grateful for all of their hard work and 
dedication to the San Angelo community and to Texas' 11th district.
   By serving his country and his community, Charles has upheld the 
Scout Oath: `To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout 
Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically 
strong, mentally awake and morally straight.' His service has set an 
example for many generations of Boy Scouts. I am honored to have the 
opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Colonel Powell with the 
Texas Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts. Again, I offer my 
congratulations to Charles for being this year's Texas Southwest 
Council of the Boy Scouts' Distinguished Citizen.

                          ____________________