[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5420]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO DR. CASS PENNINGTON

 Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I am pleased to commend Dr. Cass 
Pennington of Indianola, MS, for his service and contributions to the 
State of Mississippi while serving as the 76th president of Delta 
Council. Delta Council is an economic development organization 
representing the business, professional, and agricultural leadership of 
the alluvial floodplain commonly known as the Mississippi Delta. The 
organization was formed in 1935 and is widely respected for its role in 
meeting the challenges which have historically been faced by the 
economy and quality of life for this region of our State.
  Cass Pennington has served as president of Delta Council during a 
time when our Nation and the State of Mississippi have experienced 
enormous economic challenges at the local, State, and national levels. 
During his career, Dr. Pennington has been best known for his 
contributions to education and improved access to healthcare throughout 
the 18 Delta and part-Delta counties of northwest Mississippi. Prior to 
becoming the president of Delta Council, Dr. Pennington served as 
Superintendent of Education for school districts in Tallahatchie and 
Sunflower Counties, MS. He has served as a college sports referee and 
is a past chairman of the Board of Institutions of Higher Learning in 
the State of Mississippi, which oversees the operations and management 
of the eight public universities in our State.
  Upon retirement from the local public education system in Indianola, 
MS, Dr. Pennington served as executive assistant to the president of 
Delta State University. Later, he was asked to move into the position 
as the first chief executive officer of Delta Health Alliance, which 
has been a vitally successful program aimed at improving access to 
health care in the Mississippi Delta.
  Cass Pennington is respected in all business and education circles 
throughout our State. Delta Council, itself, has been taken to a new 
level through the involvement of Dr. Pennington. He is a leader and a 
man of strong conviction, especially with regard to the future of the 
Mississippi Delta.
  In Mississippi, we appreciate Cass Pennington, his wife Carolyn, and 
their daughter Athena for the sacrifices they have made to help improve 
the lives of all who live and do business in the Mississippi 
Delta.

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