[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E891-E892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF RALPH KETNER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2016

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Mr. Ralph Ketner, co-founder of the grocery store chain Food Lion, who 
passed away at the age of 95 on Sunday, May 29, 2016. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with the entire Ketner family as they mourn the loss of 
this great man.
  Never one to shy away from a challenge, Mr. Ketner learned early on 
the value of a hard day's work, receiving a single penny for each 
chicken he plucked at his family's house. While it was far from 
glorious work, that never bothered Mr. Ketner and he used the lessons 
from those early days to launch one of the most successful grocery 
store chains in the country. In 1957, Ralph Ketner opened the first 
Food Town store in Salisbury, North Carolina. When the store initially 
opened, it struggled to differentiate itself from the competition

[[Page E892]]

until he took a major risk and began an aggressive price cutting 
program. However, the risk paid off and the results were revolutionary. 
With the rallying cry of ``Lowest Food Prices in North Carolina,'' Mr. 
Ketner went from having one store to owning one of the largest grocery 
franchises.
  Even though his professional accomplishments are outstanding, Mr. 
Ketner's proudest achievements came in what he was able to give back to 
the community through his many philanthropic works. During his 
lifetime, he never forgot to thank those that made it all possible and 
helped whenever he could. After the success of Food Lion, Mr. Ketner 
donated millions of dollars to support various education projects 
including the development of the business school at Catawba College 
which now proudly bears his name.
  Ralph Ketner was a remarkable man known for his dedication, passion, 
and kindness. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not 
speak of him with the utmost respect and admiration. I will always 
cherish the time I spent with Mr. Ketner. I will never forget his 
friendship, humor, and sound advice. While we mourn the loss of Mr. 
Ketner, there is no doubt that his legacy will live on through not only 
his professional success but also the countless lives he was able to 
touch.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the remarkable 
life of Mr. Ralph Ketner.

                          ____________________