[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF DON WOOTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2013

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say a few words about Don 
Wooten, a man I greatly admire and am honored to call a friend. 
Tonight, Don is being honored by Augustana College in Rock Island, his 
alma mater. Due to votes here in Washington, I won't be able to make 
it, but I want to talk about Don and what he has meant to me, and our 
community in Illinois.
   Don is a former award-winning television reporter and producer. He 
has also been a teacher, a print columnist and has served on the board 
of numerous local and state organizations. Don went on to become a 
public servant, and served two terms in the Illinois State Senate. 
Afterward, he returned to his roots and founded WVIK radio station at 
Augustana College in 1980, where he still hosts two weekly radio 
programs at the ripe age of 85.
   Don has been married for more than 50 years to Bernadette and they 
have 5 children and three grandchildren. As someone who spent years as 
a journalist herself and has now entered public service, I couldn't ask 
for a better role model than Don Wooten. He has influenced so many over 
his life and is a true community leader.
   Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Don, and I look forward to 
hearing his voice on the radio for many years to come.

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