[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     BROWNWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

  (Mr. CONAWAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial 
anniversary of the Brownwood Texas Chamber of Commerce.
  Brownwood began as a pioneer town in the 19th century. As the town's 
population flourished, the cotton industry dominated. With the building 
of the West Texas District Alliance Cotton Yard and the establishment 
of the Freeman's Journal, Brownwood became the center of the Farmer's 
Alliance. In 1906, local farmers chartered the Brownwood Commercial 
Club, later renamed the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
  The Brownwood Chamber is instrumental in helping the community 
flourish. In 1940, they negotiated the home of Camp Bowie, a World War 
II training camp for the Army, housing 57,000 soldiers and civilians. 
After the camp closed, the Chamber created an industrial park that 
today houses 3M, Kohler, and other corporations which employ hundreds 
of people at their Brownwood facilities, greatly contributing to the 
prosperity of the community.
  The Brownwood Chamber continues to serve as a vital organization 
within the community. I congratulate them on their centennial 
anniversary, and I am proud to represent Brownwood in Congress.

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