[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1470-E1471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING GENTEX CORPORATION AS THE COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL COLLEGE'S 
                2016 SCHOLARSHIP GAME INNOVATION HONOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to recognize Gentex 
Corporation as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 Scholarship Gala 
Innovation Honoree. Each year The Commonwealth Medical College honors 
an outstanding individual or group for outstanding innovations in their 
field. Gentex Corporation's work to provide defense forces, first 
responders, and industrial personnel with cutting edge solutions 
exemplifies the pioneering spirit that this award represents.
  In the late 19th century, Gentex began operations under the name 
``Klots Throwing Company,'' and on the advice of their bookkeeper, 
Marcus Frieder, chose Carbondale, Pennsylvania as their headquarters to 
employ the wives and daughters of the region's coal miners. In 1932, 
Marcus and his son, Leonard

[[Page E1471]]

Frieder, bought and renamed the company General Textile Mills. As a 
producer of silk cartridge bags during World War I and parachutes 
during World War II, General Textile Mills was awarded the Army-Navy 
`E' Award for excellence in wartime production as the nation's largest 
manufacturer of parachutes at the time. The company's name was then 
shortened to Gentex in 1958. With rapid advancements in aircraft 
technology following World War II, the government approached Gentex to 
utilize the same composite-structure technology used in their parachute 
boxes for the production of pilot helmets. These hard shell helmets 
were revolutionary, and, to this day, Gentex continues to design the 
most technologically advanced personal protection and situational 
awareness solutions for defense forces, first responders, and 
industrial personnel.
  The Frieder family was instrumental in guiding the company from its 
inception at the turn of the century to the global leader it is today. 
Staying true to their family roots, this fourth-generation company is 
run by Chairman L. Peter Frieder, Jr. and President L.P. Frieder III. 
This sense of family does not stop with the company's leadership. 
Gentex continues to take pride in being an active member in their 
community and empowering the economic stability of all that make the 
company so special. Many of my constituents work at Gentex, and when a 
company can survive both industrial and digital revolutions, it speaks 
to both the leadership of the employer and quality of employees. L.P. 
and Peter say the Carbondale facility reminds them every day of where 
they came from, and this spirit is the inspiration that keeps them 
committed to the communities they work in. Their work with area 
charities such as The American Red Cross, Pennsylvania Special 
Olympics, Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, and Pennsylvania's Adopt-
A-Highway Program speaks to their outstanding work, and we are all 
grateful that a company so committed to its community continues to stay 
and excel in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 Scholarship 
Gala Innovation Honoree, Gentex Corporation has continually defined 
what it means to be a leader in their industry. On behalf of my 
constituents, I thank them for their support of our armed forces and 
first responders, and look forward to their continued innovation and 
involvement in our region.

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