[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. JOE LEVERETT

 Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dr. Joe 
Leverett of Altus, OK, whose lifelong commitment to community service 
and support for our Nation's military has left a lasting impact on 
southwest Oklahoma, the men and women who serve at Altus Air Force 
Base, and our U.S. Air Force.
  A fourth-generation resident of Altus, Dr. Leverett calls himself 
``just a country doctor.'' Yet, as a board-certified physician in 
internal medicine and geriatric medicine and former chief of staff at 
Jackson County Memorial Hospital, he has spent decades caring for 
patients in Altus and the surrounding region, improving the health and 
well-being of Oklahomans while embodying the highest ideals of his 
profession.
  His contributions to the Altus community and southwest Oklahoma 
extend far beyond his medical career. Following in the footsteps of his 
late father, Darill Leverett, he has been a dedicated civic leader, 
volunteering countless hours to strengthen the partnership between the 
people of Altus and the airmen stationed at Altus Air Force Base.
  As chairman of the Altus Military Affairs Committee, Dr. Leverett has 
long championed the understanding that the success of the base and the 
vitality of the surrounding community are deeply connected. Through his 
leadership, he has helped foster a culture of support and appreciation 
for those who serve our country, ensuring that the base and the 
community continue to thrive together to meet the mission at hand.
  In recognition of his tireless advocacy for Altus Air Force Base, the 
KC-46 Flight Training Center at Altus Air Force Base bears Dr. 
Leverett's name, a lasting tribute to the profound role he has played 
in strengthening the relationship between the installation and the 
surrounding community.
  Dr. Leverett's leadership extends far beyond the city limits of 
Altus. He has served as a member of the Oklahoma Strategic Military 
Planning Commission, was appointed to the Secretary of the Air Force's 
Air and Space Force Civic Leader Program, received the respected Tampa 
Bay Trophy during the Airlift/Tanker Association Convention in 2016, 
and, in 2023, was honored with the Distinguished Public Service Award 
presented by the Secretary of the Air Force. Dr. Leverett's selection 
for these honors reflects the profound impact he has had in building 
enduring ties between Altus Air Force Base and the community it calls 
home.
  Dr. Leverett's life is a testament to the power of service--to his 
neighbors, to his community, and to the men and women of the U.S. Air 
Force. His leadership has strengthened the bond between Altus and the 
airmen stationed there, and his work will benefit both his community 
and Nation for years to come.
  As he steps back from his leadership role with the Altus Military 
Affairs Committee, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. 
Joe Leverett for his remarkable dedication and in thanking him for the 
many ways he has served the people of Oklahoma and the United States. 
We are deeply grateful for his service.

                          ____________________