[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10101-10102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF MR. JOSEPH W. GREENE, SR. FOR HIS DEDICATED CAREER AT 
                      KANSAS CITY POWER AND LIGHT

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2014

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
dedicated employee of Kansas City Power & Light. On Friday, June 13, 
Mr. Joseph W. Green, Sr. will officially retire from the electric 
utility, having served for sixty-eight years. His commitment to the 
service of KCP&L is unparalleled, as he is the company's longest 
serving employee. Mr. Greene is a trailblazer, civil rights activist, a 
devoted family man, and a community leader who has devoted his life to 
the fight for justice and equal rights for everyone.
  Greene, affectionately known as ``Mean'' Joe Greene, was born in 
Kansas City, Missouri, in 1925. When he was just sixteen years old, he 
joined the Masonic Lodge where he ascended to the rank of Wisdom 
Master, 30 degree. Four years later, he joined KCP&L, in 1945, and 
began as janitor. Through his years he has worked as a machinist, 
apprentice mechanic, tool room attendant at Hawthorne Station, and 
Union Steward for IBEW Local 412. An investor-owned, regulated electric 
utility, Kansas City Power & Light serves more than 800,000 customers 
in 47 Missouri and Kansas counties. Mr. Greene helps to serve 
approximately 18,000 square miles, with more than 3,000 miles of 
transmission lines, 24,000 miles of distribution lines, and more than 
400 substations to deliver power to their customers.
  Greene joined the NAACP in 1963 where he served in various 
capacities, including on their Board of Directors and as a delegate to 
many of the annual conventions. For many years, he was the top 
membership recruiter for the NAACP. Greene also served on the Board of 
Kansas City's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
  ``Mean'' Joe Greene has never been afraid to speak up and fight for 
his beliefs. Of his activism, he once said, ``It's been a struggle and

[[Page 10102]]

I hope I've been able to help lay the groundwork for the acceptance of 
minorities to come into mainstream America and be given equal 
opportunities to do what they can and to the best of their abilities.'' 
One of the highlights of his life was the election of President Barack 
Obama, the nation's first African American President.
  Greene was married to the late Thelma C. Greene for 56 years. He is 
the father of three sons, Joseph Greene, Jr., Earl Greene and Dr. 
Wesley E. Greene, and one deceased daughter, Joan Greene. He also has 
several grandchildren, including two medical doctors, one attorney, one 
completing law school, a former NFL football player and an aspiring 
film producer. He says of his family, ``I am going to do everything I 
can while I'm alive for my family, my community and my people.''
  Mr. Greene has been a lifelong proponent of education and, in 
conjunction with KCP&L and the University of Missouri--Kansas City, 
supported an annual Spelling Bee for fourth and fifth-grade students 
from an inner city school.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and our colleagues in recognizing and 
honoring Mr. Joe Greene for a lifetime of devoted commitment to Kansas 
City Power & Light and our community. While he embraces this next phase 
of life in retirement, I wish to thank him for his tireless service 
over the last 68 years. His life's motto, ``We will get along fine as 
long as you respect and treat me right,'' will continue to guide his 
colleagues and all of us in the days ahead. Demonstrating unparalleled 
dedication, Joe serves as an inspiration and role model for our 
community.

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