[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21301]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF TROY H. LaGRONE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, my remarks today are to honor my friend, 
Troy H. LaGrone, retired President of Ben E. Keith Beers. Troy was a 
fixture in both the business and academic community in my hometown of 
Denton.
  Troy LaGrone was a graduate of Carthage High School and later 
attended Draughton's Business College in Dallas before joining the Ben 
E. Keith Company as a clerk in 1953. After 47 years of service, in 
2000, Mr. LaGrone retired as President of the company, but he continued 
to serve on its board of directors and for the company's Foundation.
  In addition to his extensive business career, Mr. LaGrone had served 
in the U.S. Army and was consistently involved in local and community 
projects. Throughout the years, Troy served on the board of directors 
of the Denton State School, Denton Orchestra, Denton Public Schools 
Foundation and North Texas Fair. He organized the President's Fellows 
of the University of North Texas and chaired the President's Council. 
He also served on the President's Council of Texas Woman's University.
  Mr. Troy LaGrone is survived by his wife, Sarah LaGrone and their 
three children, Joanna LaGrone-Headrick, Robert A. Strawn and James A. 
Strawn; one brother, Joe Ben LaGrone of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; four 
grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
  As a Texan and a friend, I can say we were blessed to have had him 
with us as a guide, to encourage us and to direct our paths. I am glad 
I had the chance to know him, and I honor his life here today.

                          ____________________