[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16942-16943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY FRANK PUCKETT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, today I draw my colleagues' attention to 
the years of service that Mr. Frank Puckett has provided to the city of 
Abilene and I congratulate Frank upon his retirement from the Abilene 
Reporter-News, the largest newspaper in the 17th Congressional District 
where he was employed for 19 years. Both with the newspaper and in the 
community, Frank's leadership has been tireless and productive.
  It took Frank awhile to find his way to us out in West Texas. Having 
begun his life in Indiana, he journeyed through the wilderness of Ohio 
and Illinois before making it to the Promised Land of Abilene in 1981. 
We're glad he persevered.
  Frank joined the Reporter-News in 1981 as executive vice president 
and general manager. It took him only two years to be promoted to the 
position of president and then in 1995 he assumed the publisher's 
mantle.
  While his role with the newspaper has been significant, it may be 
that his involvement with the city of Abilene has been even more far-
reaching. During the 1980s when the Texas economy presented numerous 
challenges to

[[Page 16943]]

local residents, Frank was instrumental in providing the leadership 
necessary to move towards greater economic development and security. He 
chaired ACT-NOW, which successfully orchestrated Abilene's economic 
recovery. He also served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, the 
West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Abilene Industrial Foundation, 
Hendrick Home for Children, Tax Increment Financing District, Abilene 
Improvement Corp and Abilene Community Foundation.
  With Dyess Air Force Base fulfilling such a significant role in 
Abilene's economy, Frank took on a major responsibility when he became 
chairman of the Military Affairs Committee for Abilene's Chamber of 
Commerce. In that capacity, he has focused on helping the base secure 
new missions and update current facilities. With Frank, I share a fond 
hope that Dyess will one day house the Air Borne Laser program. In 
recognition of his contributions, Frank has been named Outstanding 
Citizen by both the Strategic Air Command and the Air Mobility Command.
  While all of us in Abilene join in wishing Frank the very best in his 
retirement from the newspaper, none of us expect or hope to see Frank's 
retirement from all of the other many activities which have made his 
presence in Abilene so valuable. We know that he has much yet to 
contribute and we look forward to our continued mutual efforts to 
strengthen our beloved community and District.

                          ____________________