[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING MR. RICHARD G. HADLEY ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Rich 
Hadley, who is retiring after over twenty years of service in 
Washington State. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of 
Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), the Inland Northwest's largest 
chamber of commerce, Rich has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to 
growing jobs and business opportunities not only in Spokane but all 
across Eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest region.
  When Rich arrived at the Spokane Chamber of Commerce in 1993, the 
organization looked and functioned very differently than the GSI the 
community knows today. Under Rich's leadership, GSI has been 
intentional in consolidating business promotion efforts, thereby 
presenting a strong, unified voice for the Inland Northwest. 
Specifically in 2007, Rich brought together the Chamber and the Spokane 
Area Economic Development Council, thereby creating Greater Spokane 
Incorporated. More recently, three groups, the International Trade 
Alliance, the Spokane STEM Network, and Connect Northwest, have 
integrated with GSI: These recent integrations serve as a testament to 
GSI's credibility as the groups know that GSI will be able to fulfill 
each of their missions.
  From tirelessly advocating for Fairchild Air Force Base, an integral 
part of Spokane's community since 1942 when the City of Spokane and 
local residents purchased the land and donated it to the War 
Department, to supporting the start of the North Spokane Corridor, 
Eastern Washington's top transportation priority, Rich's legacies are 
numerous. However, his greatest legacy is his tireless commitment to 
bringing a medical school to Spokane.
  Several years ago, Rich saw a need in Eastern Washington for a 
medical school as it would bring additional doctors to the region and 
open up new economic opportunities. Working with the University of 
Washington (UW) and Washington State University (WSU), in 2008, WSU 
accepted it first group of first-year medical students at its Spokane 
campus. Last fall, it added 19 second-year students as part of the UW 
School of Medicine's second-year curriculum. Now, the University 
District is the center of a new bioscience complex that will be a major 
contributor to Spokane's future economic vitality.
  A man of integrity and high principle, his humility and his impact on 
Eastern Washington and on his country will long be remembered. So, 
today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Hadley for a 
lifetime of dedicated service.

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