[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21836]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO C.E. ``PEP'' COONEY OF ARIZONA

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of C.E. 
``Pep'' Cooney, an Arizona television icon. Pep's career in 
broadcasting spanned more than 45 years, taking him from advertising to 
president to general manager at KPNX, where he led that station to its 
stature as the number one rated television station in the State.
  Pep's nightly commentaries, or ``Pep talks,'' made him one of 
Arizona's most recognizable figures. Pep was also the quintessential 
community leader. Whether he was lending his talents to the Valley Big 
Brothers, United Way, Boy Scouts, the Fiesta Bowl, or countless other 
organizations, Pep was constantly engaged in activities to benefit the 
Valley and the State of Arizona. When the history of Arizona is 
written, Pep Cooney and the institutions he help to build and maintain 
will be a prominent feature.
  It is a rare individual who can be successful with his career, while 
devoting so much time to his community. It is truly an exceptional 
individual who can succeed in these areas while putting his family 
first. Pep was admired and respected by his colleagues and community. 
Most importantly, however, Pep was adored by his family. As a neighbor 
and friend to some of Pep's children and grandchildren, I have had the 
good fortune to watch them together. Surely the youngest of Pep's 
grandchildren knew little of his career success or his standing in the 
community. They just knew that they were his priority.
  That, Mr. Speaker, is Pep Cooney's most enduring legacy. May it be 
ours as well.

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