[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 197 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF WILLARD KINZER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 12, 2021

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
my long-time friend Willard Kinzer, a World War II veteran, racecar 
driver, and successful businessman in Eastern Kentucky. He is a loyal 
patriot of this great nation, a generous philanthropist for Kentucky's 
Appalachian communities and an innovative leader for the Kinzer 
Drilling Company.
  One of the most iconic symbols in Eastern Kentucky has become the 
giant American flag flying in front of the Kinzer Drilling headquarters 
in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It represents Willard's consummate pride in 
the American way of life, our military, and his dedication to the 
people of our region. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willard joined 
the U.S. Navy when he was only 16 years old--he adjusted his birth 
certificate, determined to help his country in World War II. He 
narrowly missed the deadly explosion on ammunition ship USS Mount Hood 
just before he was sent back home to the United States. That explosion 
killed the entire 300-plus crew on board and nearly 100 more crew 
members on the nearby USS Mindanao. It injured 371 more, sank 22 small 
boats and damaged 18 larger ships. On that day, Willard's perspective 
forever changed, and he began living with a new fearless lease on life.
  Willard Kinzer is the type of person who wakes up and hits the ground 
running. In fact, he has a sign at home that says ``Life begins at 200 
mph.'' With a passion for fast cars, he has won countless trophies and 
awards for drag racing and hill climbing competitions over the years, 
and he holds the record for being the first person in history to drive 
a stock suspension car faster than 230 miles per hour. It should come 
as no surprise that he celebrated his 90th birthday winning a drag race 
championship in Bristol, Tennessee. He is truly a thrill-seeker at 
heart.
  For 70 years, he was blessed to share every adventure with his wife, 
Lucy. Together, they raised a beautiful family and invested in local 
communities, helping build the Mountain Arts Center, the Wesley 
Christian School in Allen, and Hope in the Mountains in Prestonsburg. 
They also grew the Kinzer Drilling Company into a successful gas and 
oil business, spanning 800 miles in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.
  On this Veterans Day, I count it a great honor to join the people of 
Eastern Kentucky in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of 
Willard Kinzer, saluting him for his valiant service during World War 
II and his continued work across Eastern Kentucky.

                          ____________________