[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20339]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LEWIS PLATT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2005

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lewis 
Platt, the leading Director of the Board of the Boeing Company and the 
former Chairman, CEO, and President of Hewlett Packard, who died 
unexpectedly on Thursday, September 8, 2005.
  With Lew's death, our nation has lost one of the leading lights of 
the business world, a prominent member of the Silicon Valley community, 
and a wonderful human being.
  Lew's death at the age of 64 is a shock to those of us who were 
privileged to work with him and know him well. He was a person whose 
example and guidance will be greatly missed. His decency, his 
integrity, and his common touch made him stand out in a business world 
known for the archetypal hard-charging executive.
  Lew's legacy will be most closely linked with Hewlett Packard, where 
he worked for more than 30 years. He began his career there as an 
engineer and rose through the ranks to lead the company from 1992 to 
1999 as its CEO.
  Lew was a product of the ``HP Way,'' the ``walking-around'' style of 
management pioneered by Bill Hewlett and David Packard that encouraged 
employees to bring their ideas to top management. He embraced the HP 
Way and was known to eat lunch regularly with employees in the 
company's cafeteria. He eschewed the privileges enjoyed by most 
executives of major corporations and unlike most, he always flew coach.
  He knew the dividends that the HP Way could bring, and he was able to 
guide the company to tremendous growth during his tenure. Business Week 
named him Top Manager in 1995. Lew was also a pioneer in working to 
elevate women to top executive posts and was recognized with the 
Catalyst Award in 1991 for his efforts.
  In writing about Lew this Monday, Business Week praised him again: 
``Platt was respected, admired, and just plain liked by HP employees, 
customers, and even rivals. Platt was genuine, self-effacing, and 
honest. He was quick to give personal accolades to others, and to 
accept criticisms . . . with grace.''
  It was his integrity, I think, that brought Boeing to seek his 
leadership at a time when it was beset with controversy at its highest 
levels. Leading the company's Board, he was able to provide critical 
stability when it was needed most.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure to know Lew Platt and to work with 
him. He was a gentle man with a superb intellect. He was taken from us 
too soon and had so much more to give, but he leaves a rich legacy of 
family, of leadership and of extraordinary contributions to our 
community and our country. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the life and work of this good man and extending to his wife and entire 
family our deepest and sincere sympathy.

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