[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2077-2078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RETIREMENT OF WAYNE LEONARD

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Wayne Leonard, who 
served as Entergy's chief executive officer from 1999 and chairman/CEO 
from 2006 until January 2013. Over the course of those years, his 
visionary leadership as Entergy's top executive also encompassed 
impassioned advocacy for issues such as climate change, poverty and 
social justice. To a great extent, his compassion for people from all 
walks of life and his desire to protect the environment for future 
generations came to define his tenure at Entergy.
  When Leonard was named CEO in 1999, he began calling for action by 
business, community, and political leaders to break the cycle of 
poverty that has stunted economic growth in the mid-South region for 
generations. Since that time, Entergy has donated more than $50 million 
to charitable initiatives and advocacy efforts that successfully helped 
move low-income residents toward self-sufficiency. Among them were 
campaigns to improve early childhood education programs and financial 
support of a matched-savings program that has helped 19,000 people and 
created an economic impact of $69 million over the last decade.
  Leonard pioneered the pursuit of sustainability within his industry. 
Early on, he recognized the importance to the industry's future of 
operating in an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable 
manner. His achievements include a number of landmarks that set the 
standard and shaped the future for the energy industry. Under his 
leadership, in 2001 Entergy became the first utility in the United 
States to commit to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the 
same time, work force safety, customer satisfaction, and strong 
regulatory relationships were always top priorities for Leonard. 
Entergy has delivered top-quartile shareholder return--the overarching 
financial goal Leonard set for the company--since he was announced as 
CEO in 1998.
  After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Leonard led the 
restoration not just of a company but also a city and its surrounding 
region. Entergy and its charitable foundation donated more than $20 
million to nonprofits working to rebuild the physical, intellectual, 
and cultural assets of New Orleans. When Katrina's damages prompted 
Entergy to consider relocating its corporate headquarters, Leonard 
lobbied to keep Entergy in New Orleans and take a lead role in the 
city's revitalization and renewal.
  Leonard has personally received numerous national honors in 
recognition of his outstanding leadership, including Platts Global 
Energy CEO of the Year, the Anti-Defamation League Torch of Liberty 
Award, and the National Wildlife Federation Achievement Award. During 
his tenure, Entergy was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 
11 consecutive years for demonstrating strong financial performance and 
outstanding leadership in environmental and social commitment.
  Leonard's passionate commitment to building a strong, sustainable 
company, community, and energy industry never wavered in 14 years. In 
honor of his legacy, Entergy endowed a $5 million charitable fund upon 
his retirement to continue his work on climate change, poverty, and 
social justice issues. The fund is being endowed through shareholder-
funded donations to the Entergy Charitable Foundation, with Leonard 
serving as an adviser.
  While I will miss working with Wayne to improve both New Orleans and 
Louisiana, I applaud the work he has done to leave my city and my State 
stronger, healthier, and on the path to a brighter future.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I rise to honor and remember the full 
life of Marlene ``Linny'' Fowler for her exceptional service to her 
community, commonwealth and country.
  Marlene was born in New York City, the oldest child of Harold and 
Miriam Oberkotter. Though she was raised in Harrington Park, NJ, 
Marlene spent her adult life living in Pennsylvania. Marlene, known 
affectionately as Linny, was a renowned philanthropist, artist and a 
pillar of her adopted community. Today I wish to honor her as such.
  As a philanthropist, her influence can been seen across Northeast 
Pennsylvania, particularly in Bethlehem, the city she had called home 
since 1965. Upon the passing of her father Harold, a late UPS chief 
executive, Marlene became one of the wealthiest individuals in the 
Lehigh Valley. Choosing to eschew large homes or fancy cars, Marlene 
instead gave generously to support the arts, education and children. 
She helped to establish a childcare center and Hispanic Youth Center at 
Northampton County Community College as well as the college's Southside 
campus, which proudly bears her family name. Her generosity also helped 
send hundreds of students to colleges and universities that they would 
otherwise have been unable to afford to attend. Even with her health 
failing, Marlene worked hard to maintain her involvement with the 
community up until her passing. Although she kept the total of her 
generosity a secret, by her own admission she gave away tens of 
millions of dollars over the course of her life.
  As an artist, Marlene was trained in the art of stained glass, which 
she taught throughout her life. She also maintained a studio at the 
Banana Factory in Bethlehem, an institution she helped fund. As a 
pillar of her community, Marlene made sure her philanthropic efforts 
always had a human touch. She met with needy families and non-profit 
directors in the living room of her own home, investing herself as much 
as her money. Even as recent economic difficulties forced her to scale 
back some of her giving, she still continued to keep track of all the 
youth she helped send to school.
  As Marlene's family and friends mourn her loss, I pray that they will 
be comforted by the knowledge that this great Nation will never forget 
the generosity of Marlene ``Linny'' Fowler. May she rest in peace.

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