[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. HAL RICHARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2016

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and congratulate a 
dear friend, Mayor Hal Richards of Terrell, Texas. Hal is an 
outstanding community leader and servant for the people of Kaufman 
County.
   Hal was born in 1953 in El Paso while his father served in the Army 
at Fort Bliss. After the military, his father's job as a petroleum 
engineer took him across Texas to wherever the next oil boom struck. 
The Richards family even lived in Venezuela for a period of time. 
Ultimately, the family settled in Garland, Texas where he was an active 
musician in the Garland High School band and even played in a slightly 
lesser known garage band, The Monotones.
   After graduating high school, Hal took his talents to Texas A&M 
where he served as the drum major in the Fighting Texas Aggie Band. He 
graduated in 1975 with a degree in political science, and later he 
earned his MBA.
   Hal met his wife Christi while at A&M and they married in 1976. They 
found their way to Terrell in 1981 where he opened a tractor 
distributorship and raised his family. The folks of Terrell are glad 
they did. In 2001, Hal sold the tractor dealership and took over his 
father's manufacturing company, Catco, where he continues to oversee 
operations.
   Hal decided to give back to his adopted town and ran for city 
council, and served for one term before being elected Mayor of Terrell 
in 2007. As mayor, he has been instrumental in the growth of ``Terrell 
America,'' the adopted slogan. Hal has served his community in a number 
of other capacities including: Chairman of the Terrell Chamber of 
Commerce, Assistant Scout Master, member and past president of the 
Rotary Club, and his church's vestry. Not surprisingly, Hal was also 
recently named Citizen of the Year. And if he wasn't busy enough, Hal 
finally realized a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot in 2003.
   Hal and Christi have three sons, Jason, Travis and Chad. Like their 
dad, they are all proud Texas A&M graduates as well. It is truly an 
honor to represent Hal Richards in the United States House of 
Representatives. On behalf of the Fifth District of Texas I would like 
to congratulate Hal for a job well done as Mayor, and thank him for his 
tireless commitment to his family and community.

                          ____________________