[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13094]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           A TRIBUTE TO WALTER J. ZABLE ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 17, 2005

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to 
a leading San Diego citizen who, on this day, is celebrating his 90th 
birthday. Walter J. Zable, the founder of Cubic Corporation, has served 
as the chairman, president and CEO of the corporation for five decades.
  Walt Zable formed Cubic in 1951 with just one product and plenty of 
grit and determination. Today, Cubic Corporation is a $722 million 
company that employs 1,200 in the San Diego area and nearly 6,000 
employees worldwide.
  Prior to forming Cubic in 1951, Mr. Zable was project supervisor in 
charge of electronics for the Atlas and Terrier missiles, and the 
microwave and antenna development sections at General Dynamics Convair. 
His background includes engineering and management posts with Sperry 
Gyroscope Company, where he directed development of fire control, 
guidance, communications, and command and control systems. He also held 
key technical, scientific and administrative positions with Federal 
Telecommunications Laboratories of ITT, Flight Research Company, and 
Newport News Shipyard and Drydock Company.
  Before launching his engineering career, Mr. Zable was a professional 
football player for the Richmond Arrows and the New York Giants. He 
went on to receive numerous sports honors, including the 1962 SPORTS 
ILLUSTRATED Silver Anniversary All-American Team and induction into 
William and Mary's Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1971, he established the 
Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter of the National Football Foundation 
and College Hall of Fame (NFFCHF) to help preserve the genuine 
sportsmanship and integrity exhibited in high school and college 
football.
  He credits the Boston school system for his success in business, 
because ``if it weren't for athletics during the depression years, it 
would have been difficult to go to college,'' said Mr. Zable, who 
received a full football scholarship from the College of William and 
Mary. Today, he's still dedicated to helping other young student-
athletes realize their dreams and reach their full academic and 
athletic potential through the NFFCHF local chapter, which is among 
more than 100 chapters in the country.
  Recognized as Cubic's largest and most visible community relations 
project, the Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter has helped further the 
careers of the hundreds of honorees, including sports giants such as 
former San Diego Charger Junior Seau and Mark Malone, a sports 
broadcaster and former Pittsburgh Stealers quarterback. In 1987, the 
NCAA acknowledged his contribution to athletics by naming Walter Zable 
a winner of the Teddy Roosevelt Award, its most prestigious honor. 
Other winners of this award have included President George Bush, Dwight 
D. Eisenhower and Senator Leverett Saltonstall.
  In addition to his work in helping young student-athletes, Walter 
Zable and his company give generously to charitable causes, most of 
them benefiting children. He has also set up a $10 million endowment 
that will become effective for the College of William and Mary upon the 
deaths of Walter and his wife, Betty.
  Walter Zable is a humble man who eschews the limelight and would 
rather see the focus be on his company and its hardworking employees. 
However, I think even he would be willing to make an exception for this 
special recognition for reaching his 90th birthday. I ask my colleagues 
to join me in congratulating Walter J. Zable on attaining this 
significant milestone and wish him many more years in the company of 
his loving wife and family.

                          ____________________