[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL RICHMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2002

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. 
Michael Richmond, President and CEO of The Woodlands Operating Company, 
as he prepares to retire from 30 years of dedication and service to The 
Woodlands Community.
  Michael Richmond is a visionary. He shared in the original vision for 
The Woodlands almost from the very inception when he joined George 
Mitchell and his team in 1972.
  During these past 30 years, Michael's career moved rapidly within The 
Woodlands Corporation and then into The Woodlands Operating Company. He 
became treasurer, then senior financial officer and moved into the 
operations area as senior vice president of commercial development. In 
1985 he was named executive vice president of the company with 
responsibilities encompassing commercial, The Woodlands Conference 
Center and Resort, investment properties, apartments, office buildings, 
industrial development and retail shopping centers. Today, thanks to 
Michael's leadership, The Woodlands is a model of success.
  In his three decades of service and exemplary performance in 
developing The Woodlands, the new owners Morgan Stanley and Crescent 
Operating, Inc. named him president and COO in November 1997. He was 
named President and CEO on November 1, 1998. Currently, Michael is 
serving on numerous boards and is affiliated with many community 
services. When he heard Michael was retiring, George Mitchell stated 
``I hate to see it, Mike is a very knowledgeable person. He did a great 
job of keeping the vision alive.''
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and the citizens of The Woodlands, Texas, 
in thanking and congratulating Michael Richmond on a job well done.

                          ____________________