[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19343-19344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MR. GARY NEALE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor Mr. 
Gary Neale on the occasion of his retirement as chief executive officer 
of NiSource, where he has served the people of northwest Indiana since 
1989 and who I am proud to call a friend.
  Mr. Neale guided the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, a mid-
sized utility provider, to become NiSource, one of the Nation's leading 
energy companies. Today, NiSource is a Fortune 500 company--the only 
one headquartered in northwest Indiana, and one of the few located in 
the State of Indiana. Because of Mr. Neale's work, NiSource is now the 
largest natural gas distributor east of the Rocky Mountains. This 
incredible growth came under the talented leadership of Mr. Neale, as 
he has brought an unparalleled level of vision and energy to NiSource. 
Because of his commitment to the community and his company, he will 
continue to serve NiSource as chairman of the board of directors after 
his retirement.
  Upon his retirement, Mr. Neale will have nearly 40 years of 
experience in the energy industry. He has become one of the most well-
respected leaders in the industry over the years. Mr. Neale has served 
as the chairman of the American Gas Association and the North American 
Electric Reliability Council. He was also appointed by former U.S. 
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to serve on the U.S. Department of 
Energy's Electricity Advisory Board and was selected by former U.S. 
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to serve on the National Petroleum 
Council.
  His contributions to the economy of northwest Indiana are only 
eclipsed by his commitment to community service. The NiSource 
Charitable Foundation contributes more than $5 million per year to non-
profit organizations in the communities served by NiSource. Under his 
guidance, NiSource developed its Environmental Challenge Fund to 
support wildlife enhancement projects. To date, the fund has awarded 
more than $850,000 in support of wildlife projects. Mr. Neale himself 
is personally committed to public service, serving on the boards of the 
Northwest Indiana Symphony Society, the Lake County United Way 
Campaign, and the Northwest Indiana Americans With Disabilities Act 
Advisory Board. A leader in economic development and a man of 
foresight, Mr. Neale has worked to improve the efficiency of local 
government services through his involvement with the Good Government 
Initiative in northwest Indiana. Additionally, he has invested great 
amounts of personal time and energy in the Indiana Dunes Environmental 
Learning Center. He is also committed to higher education in northwest 
Indiana, serving as a Trustee of Valparaiso University.
  Mr. Neale has accomplished much since coming to northwest Indiana 
from his home state of Washington, where he received his

[[Page 19344]]

B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Washington. I wish him, his wife 
Sandy, his two children, Julie and David, and his five grandchildren 
the best of luck in his retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in commending Gary Neale for his outstanding contributions to 
the community of northwest Indiana. His commitment to improving the 
quality of life for the people of the First Congressional District of 
Indiana is truly inspirational and should be recognized and commended. 
Over the years, I have sought out Gary for his advice and counsel on 
energy issues and to seek his assistance on matters affecting Northwest 
Indiana. I have always found him to be conscientious, deliberate, and 
innovative in his guidance. As James Joyce said, ``not in time, place, 
or circumstance but in the man lies success;'' or, as my father would 
say, ``he's a 100% guy.''

                          ____________________