[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 191 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1170-E1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DON CHILDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 1, 2021

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise to wish my good friend, 
Don Childers from Letcher County, Kentucky a very Happy 90th Birthday.
  Don has been a close friend over the years, becoming one of my 
earliest and strongest political allies in the coalfields of Kentucky's 
Appalachian region. He has led a remarkable career in the oil industry 
after starting from humble beginnings in Hellier, Kentucky.
  Hard work and determination have defined his storied lifetime. Don 
put himself through college by driving a coal truck, earning $13.05 per 
day. He earned an associate degree from Pikeville College in 1952 and a 
bachelor's degree in business from the University of Kentucky in 1954. 
That same year, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in 
Germany, leaving behind his wife and newborn daughter. After fulfilling 
the call of duty, he returned to Hellier High School in 1956, where he 
accepted a job as a teacher and basketball coach. Education, however, 
became the shortest term of his career.
  Six weeks into his new job as a teacher and coach, Don was offered a 
job with Gulf Oil Corporation as a Territory Manager, spanning 22 
counties in southeastern Kentucky. Working with some of the best 
operators in the region, Don quickly learned the ropes of the petroleum 
business, leading to speedy promotions within the company. Ten years 
after working for the Gulf Oil Corporation, Don

[[Page E1171]]

asked for the rare opportunity to purchase the Whitesburg operations, 
so he could raise his family at home in the mountains of Eastern 
Kentucky. The company accepted his offer and Childers Oil was born. 
Today, they employ over 1,000 people, including its full-service 24-
hour convenience stores and affiliated companies.
  The Childers Oil Company has always been a family venture with his 
wife, Peggy, leading kitchen recipes and retail operations. Their two 
daughters and son-in-law now play key roles in the company, and the 
third generation is coming on strong with a full understanding of their 
grandfather's business philosophy. This family-owned and operated 
business is also a wonderful steward of the communities they serve, 
partnering with numerous civic and charitable organizations every year, 
reinvesting in the region they love so much.
  In addition to Don's work in the oil industry, he has tirelessly 
worked to bring additional jobs and opportunities to the region through 
his work on the Letcher County Planning Commission, which he 
established with a group of community leaders 17 years ago. They have 
patiently advocated for a federal corrections facility to be built in 
Letcher County to create hundreds of good-paying jobs in Eastern 
Kentucky. Knowing the additional opportunities that could arise with a 
new prison, Don also launched the Letcher County Airport Board to meet 
aviation needs in our mountainous terrain. He is a bold, visionary 
leader who has inspired many others to think out-of-the-box for 
innovative industry goals in Eastern Kentucky. Don is also a man of 
great faith, having dedicated more than 55 years as a member of the 
Whitesburg First Baptist Church.
  I count it a great honor to celebrate Don Childers and his many 
accomplishments on his 90th birthday. I hope this year is filled with 
many more blessings for Don and his family.

                          ____________________