[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16748-16749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 IN RECOGNITION OF MR. JAMES E. KELLEY

 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
humanitarian work of James Kelley of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  For many years, Mr. Kelley has been known for his successes as an 
entrepreneur and philanthropist in Indiana. He founded the Kelley 
Automotive group in 1952 which now employs over 1200 employees in both 
Indiana and Georgia. His dedication to public service has been evident 
through his service on the boards of the Fort Wayne Chamber of 
Commerce, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Boys 
and Girls Club of Fort Wayne, the YMCA, Fort Wayne National Bank, the 
Fort Wayne Aviation Museum, and the Arthritis Foundation.
  Recently, Mr. Kelley has devoted his energies to developing a grain 
business in the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova is a small 
country approximately the size of Indiana with a population of 4.8 
million people. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, 
Moldova has been struggling to successfully transition from a communist 
system to a democratic republic.

[[Page 16749]]

  One of the greatest challenges facing this burgeoning country is that 
of economic development. In 1999 the per capita income in Moldova was 
only $2,200 and inflation was at 43 percent. Through his purchase of a 
grain elevator and his partnership with the farmers of Moldova, Mr. 
Kelley has been able to loan local farmers feed, fertilizer, and fuel. 
In the near future, he plans to introduce modern farming techniques 
that will increase crop yields. The Kelley Grain company is considered 
to be one of the primary economic development initiatives in the 
nation, and Mr. Kelley's work has been recognized by both the former 
and current prime ministers of Moldova.
  In addition to his economic endeavors, Mr. Kelley has taken his 
philanthropic activities abroad as well. While in Moldova, he noticed a 
deficiency in their health care system and organized a medical team to 
travel to Moldova. While there, this team trained physicians and nurses 
in techniques to implant pacemakers, provided much needed supplies for 
cardiovascular surgeries, provided consultation and echocardiographic 
imaging at the cardiology center, visited pediatric wards and 
orphanages, and provided the rural city of Gaushen with antibiotics, 
blood pressure cuffs, and antihypertensive medications.
  I would like to commend James Kelley for his efforts and tireless 
dedication to helping the people of this struggling country. His 
humanitarian work in the Republic of Moldova can only enhance the 
relationship between our two countries. I am honored to be able to 
recognize his contributions and wish him continued success in the 
future.

                          ____________________