[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1358-E1359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY RENAMING OLD 
       TOWN STATION IN HONOR OF CHARLES EMERY AND HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 29, 2019

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Mr. F. Charles 
Emery II of Lewisville, Texas on the event of his retirement as 
Chairman of the Board of the Denton County Transportation Authority.
  Charles and his wife Elaine, both of whom I have considered friends 
for decades, have served Denton County in a variety of ways and left an 
indelible mark on our community. In addition to a successful career in 
real estate development, Charles was a member of the Lewisville City 
Council, an active member of the Lewisville and Dallas Chambers of 
Commerce, and a member of a variety of boards and commissions that 
touched almost every facet of our region.
  A man of great faith, Charles has been a dedicated member of the 
Denton Bible Church, where he and Elaine are long-time supporters of 
its choir program. Charles is also a proud veteran, having served our 
country in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard. And I 
know Charles would not let me forget his dedication to his beloved alma 
mater, Texas A&M University.
  However, in a life that includes many achievements, Charles' most 
lasting contribution to our region may be his role as the father and 
chief architect of the Denton County Transportation Authority, which 
provides vital public transportation services throughout North Texas.
  Charles worked tirelessly with state lawmakers to fine-tune the 
legislation signed by then-Governor Rick Perry in 2001 that created 
Denton County Transportation Authority as an entity. He then spent the 
next year going door-to-door in every corner of Denton County in 
support of a local ballot measure to confirm creation of the agency. It 
was approved with a 73 percent majority. I remember early in my 
Congressional career, Charles did not hesitate to lend his expertise on 
local transportation issues.
  Once Denton County Transportation Authority was formed, Charles 
agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors and for the next 
17 years, he proceeded to lead the agency down a path of providing 
quality services to a transit-dependent constituency in a financially 
sustainable manner. After concentrating on bus service for the first 10 
years of existence, Charles and his colleagues at Denton County 
Transportation Authority expanded the agency's footprint to include 
commuter rail with the 2011 opening of the 21-mile A-Train, which 
connects Denton County to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Light rail 
system in Carrollton.
  Charles quickly became a staple in the North Texas transportation 
community and offered his insights and service to a number of entities, 
including the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition, the Regional 
Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of 
Governments, and the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition.

[[Page E1359]]

  For his efforts, Charles was recognized with the ``Outstanding Public 
Transportation Board Member Award'' in 2007 by the American Public 
Transportation Association, the premier association representing the 
interests of the public transportation industry in North America.
  It is a privilege to recognize my friend Charles Emery for his 
dedication and commitment to his fellow North Texans, and I 
congratulate him on this well-earned honor.

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