[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO PAT ROONEY

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today, I rise to pay tribute to a 
businessman who has witnessed the transformation of a company from a 
single plant operation into a multinational corporation. The 
businessman I am referring to is Pat Rooney, who is retiring on June 
3rd after almost 45 years of service to Cooper Tire and Rubber Company. 
Mr. Rooney began his career with Cooper Tire in 1956 as a sales 
trainee. In 1994, Pat Rooney was elected CEO and Chairman of the Board 
of Cooper Tire. That hierarchical progression is astounding. In this 
day and time with the ever changing economy, it is almost hard to 
fathom someone working for one employer for four and a half decades. 
Pat Rooney saw Cooper Tire and Rubber grow from 1,000 total employees 
to now 25,000 worldwide. During his tenure at Cooper Tire, Mr. Rooney 
spent time working in Clarksdale, Mississippi at the rubber products 
operation in the Mississippi Delta. Cooper has built a significant 
presence in my state, employing numerous Mississippians at locations in 
Clarksdale and Tupelo. Pat Rooney lives in Findlay, Ohio and has been 
very active in the community. He is a Rotarian, active in the Findlay/
Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, and the County Community 
Development Foundation and served on the advisory council of the Arts 
Partnership of Hancock County. Again, I want to commend Pat Rooney 
today for his service to his company and his community. Cooper Tire has 
been fortunate to have such a dedicated employee, leader, and 
visionary. Mr. Rooney I hope you will enjoy your well deserved 
retirement.

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