[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16959]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       THE RETIREMENT OF JIM BARR

 Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, today I wish to honor my friend, 
James Barr III, a respected citizen of Wisconsin and a distinguished 
business executive, who has served with integrity and distinction as 
president and chief executive officer of TDS Telecommunication 
Corporation since 1990. Mr. Barr is stepping down from his position 
with TDS later this year.
  Jim Barr has built a strong business model for TDS Telecom that is 
widely admired and emulated in the corporate world. Under his 
leadership, TDS Telecom has become a strong customer-focused 
organization that has won numerous customer service awards, including 
the prestigious JD Power and Associates annual award for exceptional 
customer care. He has created a vigorous and vital business 
organization with over 3,200 employees serving 1.2 million customers in 
29 States. The company is now the sixth largest independent telephone 
company in the Nation.
  Jim Barr has given of his personal time not only in his service to 
several national telecommunications industry boards but to numerous 
prestigious public service organizations, including the United Way of 
Dane County, WI.
  Jim Barr has been an exemplary leader. His efforts have brought a 
higher quality of life to the people who have served with him and to 
the community he has served. He is, however, first and foremost, a 
loving and supportive husband to Joan, his wife of 45 years, a caring 
and understanding father to his four children, and a proud and devoted 
grandfather to eight grandchildren.
  Mr. President, I therefore honor Jim Barr today for his outstanding 
contributions to the telecommunications industry as well as Wisconsin. 
He is a visionary and a builder, leader and a mentor, a beloved 
husband, father, and grandfather, and I am proud to call him my 
friend.

                          ____________________