[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 195 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4775-H4776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF ROB McCARTNEY

  (Mr. Bacon of Nebraska was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a journalist and a 
beloved anchorman who has made a significant impact in our district and 
the region, always striving to remain professional, balanced, unbiased, 
and compassionate. KETV's Rob McCartney is retiring from Nebraska's and 
Iowa's airwaves after 41 years.
  Rob and I have many things in common in our backgrounds. He grew up 
as an Air Force brat, and I was in the Air Force.
  Rob has a strong relationship with Offutt Air Force Base and the 55th 
Wing, having covered several stories there. I served at Offutt Air 
Force Base three times and served as the wing commander in the Fightin' 
55th.
  Finally, both Rob and I married the local girl and have enjoyed many 
years of marriage.
  Before graduating with his B.A. in journalism from the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln, Rob spent his time spinning records at KXSS-FM. After 
graduation, he served as the farm director and assistant sports 
director for NTV, followed by nearly 7 years at KOLN and KGIN TV, where 
he worked as an anchor and reporter.

  In 1992, Rob joined KETV, working in the Lincoln bureau before 
relocating to Omaha in 1995. He then joined the anchor desk in the 
evenings and led Omaha Crime Stoppers, where he helped to bring some of 
the area's most wanted fugitives to justice.
  In his 33 years at KETV, he has reported on the Nebraska National 
Guard from Bosnia, interviewed multiple U.S. Presidents and other 
elected and public officials, and covered two of Nebraska's national 
championships in football.
  Over the years, Rob was dedicated to election coverage, educating 
voters on issues and candidates to help them make informed decisions. 
As host of KETV's public affairs show ``Chronicle,'' he would dig deep 
into the issues that mattered most to voters.
  Rob was always on board for breaking news, helping viewers navigate 
difficult times. He covered the role that Offutt Air Force Base played 
on 9/11 and, 10 years later, provided an in-depth, behind-the-scenes 
look at President Bush's visit to STRATCOM on that fateful day.
  In December 2007, Rob would once again provide a stable presence to 
the community when a lone gunman shot and killed eight people and 
injured five others at Von Maur. From the first day during the 
afternoon, straight through until 5 a.m. the next morning, and for 
several days to follow, Rob helped guide the community through that 
tragedy.
  Mr. Speaker, 6 months later, Rob was on the air once again for more 
than 12 hours because a line of supercell thunderstorms that had formed 
in southeast Nebraska turned into dozens of tornadoes. One of those 
turned deadly, hitting a Boy Scout camp near Little Sioux, Iowa, where 
4 boys were killed and 48 people were injured.
  He also maintained that presence for the community during the 2019 
floods, reporting on their impact on Offutt Air Force Base and across 
the region.
  One of his most memorable, award-winning stories was Omaha Police 
Officer Keith Thompson's yearslong effort

[[Page H4776]]

to walk again after being paralyzed on the job.
  Rob has been recognized for his community work and professional 
achievements, being one of the only actively working journalists to be 
inducted into the Omaha Press Club Hall of Fame.
  Rob's most significant award was being named a wingman in 2023 by the 
55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, in recognition for his passion for 
sharing Offutt's story.
  Rob's professionalism and commitment to fair and balanced journalism 
will be missed. He is the Walter Cronkite of Omaha.
  We wish him a happy retirement.

                          ____________________