[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CATO JOHNSON

 Mr. HAGERTY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate my friend and an outstanding community leader in Memphis, 
TN, Cato Johnson, on the occasion of his retirement.
  Cato currently serves as chief of staff at Methodist Le Bonheur 
Healthcare, where he has dedicated over 40 years of extraordinary 
service. Cato has also served Tennesseans in many ways, including on 
the TennCare Medical Advisory Committee, the Governor's TennCare 
Roundtable, and the State Health Planning Advisory Board.
  His leadership, however, extends far beyond healthcare. Cato was a 
founding member of the University of Memphis Board of Trustees and 
served as chair of the board between March 2024 and March 2026. During 
his time as chair, the university accomplished much, including the 
creation and naming of Victory Park student housing; the creation of 
new U of M foundations; a new independent school district; University 
Schools; and a new University Schools elementary school; Campus School 
Kimball.
  Cato is also the former chair of the Tennessee Higher Education 
Commission, former member of the Tennessee State School Board, and has 
served on the executive committee of the Memphis and Shelby County 
Sports Authority.
  Cato has chaired my own Memphis ``Kitchen Cabinet'' and has provided 
pivotal advice over the past 5 years. The advice and counsel of our 
Memphis Kitchen Cabinet was critical to the initiation and ongoing 
success of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
  Cato is a champion for healthcare, education, athletics, and the 
Memphis community. In fact, Ford Blue Oval has established the Cato 
Johnson Scholarship and the local YMCA on Elvis Presley Boulevard is 
named after Cato and his wife, the Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA.
  Cato is a trusted leader, partner, and friend to all who know him; I 
am pleased to be among those fortunate to be so close. I want to thank 
Cato for his remarkable legacy in Tennessee. I congratulate him on his 
well-earned retirement and wish him a lifetime of happiness with his 
family and many friends.

                          ____________________