[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 66 (Thursday, April 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF GRAHAM MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT AND CEO 
                               EMILY BARR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL-

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2022

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize President and 
Chief Executive Officer Emily L. Barr on the occasion of her retirement 
from Graham Media Group after a decade of stellar work. Her service to 
our community is worthy of commendation.
  A native of Massachusetts, Mrs. Barr's career has been nothing short 
of exemplary. She began her career in broadcasting in 1980 as a news 
editor in St. Paul, Minnesota, before working as a writer and producer 
at a station in Washington, D.C. Until 1988, Mrs. Barr served as the 
Director of Creative Services and Advertising and Promotion Manager at 
KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas. In 1988, she became the Director of 
Broadcast Operations and Programming at WMAR-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. 
Later, she led the ABC-owned station in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina 
as the President and General Manager before she became President and 
General Manager of ABC 7 Chicago. In 2012, Mrs. Barr joined Graham 
Media Group, which includes WDIV Detroit, as the President and Chief 
Executive Officer. Her work propelled Graham Media Group to evolve from 
a broadcast-based model to seven local media hubs. She led the 
acquisition of top social media software, and developed Graham Digital, 
a digital media and technology development group in Detroit. Her fierce 
dedication to her work has transformed Graham Media Group to represent 
nearly 7 percent of coverage in the United States.
  As a leader in our community, Mrs. Barr's work did not end in the 
broadcasting space. She has been a leader for women wherever she has 
been and has supported civic causes throughout her career. At home, she 
led citywide efforts to raise funds for the Haitian earthquake relief 
effort and serves on the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Carleton 
College in Minnesota. Mrs. Barr is also the recipient of numerous 
awards and honors, including the Broadcaster of the Year Award, the 
Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year Award, the Distinguished 
Alumni Achievement Award, the Golden Mike Award, and holds an Honorary 
Doctorate from Robert Morris University. Amongst this, she has been 
inducted into the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the 
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and will be elected to 
the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame this Spring. Mrs. Barr currently 
resides with her husband Scott and two daughters in Chicago.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Emily 
Barr for her outstanding career. She has led with compassion and 
integrity, ensuring the success of Graham Media Group and has been an 
innovative leader in media for over two decades and who truly cares 
about the Midwest. I join with Mrs. Barr's family, friends, and 
colleagues in extending my best wishes to her in retirement.

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