[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14345]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING GENTEX CORPORATION AS THE COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL COLLEGE'S 
                2016 SCHOLARSHIP GAME INNOVATION HONOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to recognize Gentex 
Corporation as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 Scholarship Gala 
Innovation Honoree. Each year The Commonwealth Medical College honors 
an outstanding individual or group for outstanding innovations in their 
field. Gentex Corporation's work to provide defense forces, first 
responders, and industrial personnel with cutting edge solutions 
exemplifies the pioneering spirit that this award represents.
  In the late 19th century, Gentex began operations under the name 
``Klots Throwing Company,'' and on the advice of their bookkeeper, 
Marcus Frieder, chose Carbondale, Pennsylvania as their headquarters to 
employ the wives and daughters of the region's coal miners. In 1932, 
Marcus and his son, Leonard Frieder, bought and renamed the company 
General Textile Mills. As a producer of silk cartridge bags during 
World War I and parachutes during World War II, General Textile Mills 
was awarded the Army-Navy `E' Award for excellence in wartime 
production as the nation's largest manufacturer of parachutes at the 
time. The company's name was then shortened to Gentex in 1958. With 
rapid advancements in aircraft technology following World War II, the 
government approached Gentex to utilize the same composite-structure 
technology used in their parachute boxes for the production of pilot 
helmets. These hard shell helmets were revolutionary, and, to this day, 
Gentex continues to design the most technologically advanced personal 
protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, 
first responders, and industrial personnel.
  The Frieder family was instrumental in guiding the company from its 
inception at the turn of the century to the global leader it is today. 
Staying true to their family roots, this fourth-generation company is 
run by Chairman L. Peter Frieder, Jr. and President L.P. Frieder III. 
This sense of family does not stop with the company's leadership. 
Gentex continues to take pride in being an active member in their 
community and empowering the economic stability of all that make the 
company so special. Many of my constituents work at Gentex, and when a 
company can survive both industrial and digital revolutions, it speaks 
to both the leadership of the employer and quality of employees. L.P. 
and Peter say the Carbondale facility reminds them every day of where 
they came from, and this spirit is the inspiration that keeps them 
committed to the communities they work in. Their work with area 
charities such as The American Red Cross, Pennsylvania Special 
Olympics, Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, and Pennsylvania's Adopt-
A-Highway Program speaks to their outstanding work, and we are all 
grateful that a company so committed to its community continues to stay 
and excel in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, as The Commonwealth Medical College's 2016 Scholarship 
Gala Innovation Honoree, Gentex Corporation has continually defined 
what it means to be a leader in their industry. On behalf of my 
constituents, I thank them for their support of our armed forces and 
first responders, and look forward to their continued innovation and 
involvement in our region.

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