[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                   REMEMBERING DONALD ``BUDDY'' WRAY

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the life 
and legacy of Arkansas businessman and former Tyson Foods executive 
Donald ``Buddy'' Wray.
  Buddy spent his life building Tyson Foods into one of the world's 
leading food companies. He was equally committed to serving northwest 
Arkansas and leaves behind a legacy as a respected community leader.
  Buddy started his career as a service technician in 1961, working as 
the liaison for the many family-contracted farms ensuring the health of 
the flocks. He rose through the ranks of the company.
  As a regular fixture at Tyson, his dedication led him to become the 
chief operation officer in 1992 and, a year later, the president of the 
company, a position he held until his retirement in 2000.
  His commitment and love for the company led him to serve as part-time 
consultant, but he returned to full-time service in 2008. Chairman John 
Tyson says Buddy was ``instrumental in everything the company did for 
over 50 years.''
  Buddy was a strong voice for the Arkansas poultry industry, always 
keeping the needs of the farmer close to his heart. He was named the 
Distinguished Alumni of the Year in 2000 by the University of Arkansas. 
In 2004, the university established the Donald ``Buddy'' Wray Chair in 
Food Safety within the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture. His 
exemplary dedication to agriculture was noted in 2012 when he was 
inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was 
inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
  Buddy truly transformed agriculture and was an advocate for Arkansas. 
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife of 50 years, Linda; children 
Cindy, Scott, Jana; their eight grandchildren; and the rest of the Wray 
family.

                          ____________________