[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16460-16461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHN C. LECHLEITER ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                 RETIREMENT FROM ELI LILLY AND COMPANY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2016

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. John 
C. Lechleiter on the occasion of his retirement. Through his tenacious 
and determined leadership at Lilly's helm and through his compassionate 
engagement with our community, Dr. Lechleiter has brought about 
positive growth to our Hoosier home. The people of Indiana's Fifth 
Congressional District are forever grateful for Dr. Lechleiter's 
dedication to our Hoosier community.
  Although born in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Lechleiter has lived and 
worked in Indiana for decades. He joined Eli Lilly in 1979 as a senior 
organic chemist in process research and development after earning his 
bachelor's degree in chemistry from Xavier University and his master's 
and doctoral degrees in organic chemistry from Harvard University. He 
became head of the process research and development department in 1982, 
and in 1984, he began serving as director of pharmaceutical product 
development for the Lilly Research Centre Limited in Windlesham, 
England. He later held roles in project management, regulatory affairs, 
product development, and pharma operations. Dr. Lechleiter was named 
President and COO of Eli Lilly in 2005, was named CEO in 2008 and was 
subsequently appointed Chairman of the board in 2009. In his eight 
years as CEO, Dr. Lechleiter has demonstrated key strategic leadership 
abilities and tireless efforts to ensure the growth and success of one 
of Indiana's largest employers. His outstanding leadership was not only 
good for Lilly and Indiana's economy but also for the economic well-
being of so many families in our community. His unwavering commitment 
to Lilly's mission to make medicines that help people live longer, 
healthier, and lead more active lives, as well as the commitment to 
make significant contributions to humanity by improving global health 
in the 21st century, has supported the flourishing biosciences industry 
and Indiana STEM jobs. Under Dr. Lechleiter's leadership, Lilly has 
helped make Indiana a leading state, number two in the nation, in the 
life sciences exports.
  Since the company's inception more than 140 years ago, Lilly has been 
devoted to discovering, developing, and improving new and better 
pharmaceuticals. Under Dr. Lechleiter's leadership, Lilly continued to 
achieve its vision of contributing to humanity and improving modern 
healthcare. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Eli Lilly and Company has 
had a positive impact throughout the state of Indiana. The Eli Lilly 
and Company Foundation, created in 1968, is dedicated to improving the 
lives of those lacking the resources to obtain quality healthcare and 
strengthening education in math and science for underserved students. 
The Lilly Foundation has given more than $15.7 million to Indiana 
organizations, and Lilly employees have given more than $19.6 million 
to charitable organizations. Lilly does $819 million in business with 
over 700 Indiana vendors. Lilly employees work to create an impact on 
the world by discovering and creating life-changing medicines; 
improving-the understanding and management of disease, and giving back 
to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. This philosophy 
of giving and commitment to the community has been carried down through 
management from Colonel Eli Lilly to Dr. Lechleiter. And Dr. 
Lechleiter's own personal dedication to charitable work and emphasis on 
sustainable giving

[[Page 16461]]

has greatly improved our community's long term growth and development.
  Under his leadership, Eli Lilly has shown progress year after year in 
diversity initiatives and through his insistence to make diversity of 
his scientific workforce a priority, Lilly climbed Diversitylnc's Top 
50 list. Lilly's corporate philosophy rests on the belief that the 
employees are the company's most valuable assets. Indeed Dr. 
Lechleiter's dedication to this principle has made an impact through 
the Lilly community, he is known for his enthusiasm to take on any 
problem none too small for his attention. His friends, his colleagues, 
and our community have benefited from his sincere regard for his 
employees, his hands on approach to sustainable giving, and dedicated 
community involvement.
  Dr. Lechleiter's passion for, and dedication to, the biosciences 
industry clearly shows in his award winning work throughout the years. 
In 2014, he was named as the August M. Watanabe Life Sciences Champion 
of the Year for his vital support as one of the original organizers of 
the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. BioCrossroads presents the 
Watanabe Award annually to an individual or organization that has 
facilitated the development and promotion of Indiana's life sciences. 
Dr. Lechleiter stated the importance of bringing together industry and 
research universities in a new, industry-led research institute that 
would bring entrepreneurial success as well as world-class talent to 
Indiana. His efforts to engage all sectors across the broader community 
have pushed Indiana forward to become a national leader in the 
biosciences industry.
  Additionally, he was awarded the inaugural Global Health Partner 
Award from Project HOPE in 2012, and he received the 2015 International 
Citizen of the Year Award from the International Center of 
Indianapolis, Indiana. John and his wife Sarah have just recently been 
named as the winner of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee's 
2016 Charles L. Whistler Award. This annual award recognizes 
individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions 
have brought together the public and private sectors for civic 
improvement in Indianapolis. This award recognizes the great commitment 
John and Sarah have made to early childhood education and their 
dedication to helping the advancement of our young people through early 
education. He has received Honorary Doctorates from Marian University, 
the University of Indianapolis, the National University of Ireland, 
Indiana University, Franklin College, and Purdue University.
  In addition to his work at Lilly, Dr. Lechleiter is also a member of 
multiple boards and councils. Dr. Lechleiter is a member of the 
American Chemical Society and Business Roundtable. He is chairman of 
the U.S.--Japan Business Council, United Way Worldwide, and the United 
Way of Central Indiana, the Central Indiana Community Foundation, the 
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Indiana Repertory Theater. He 
also serves on the boards of the Pharmaceutical Research and 
Manufacturers of America, PhRMA, the Chemical Heritage Foundation, the 
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Nike, Inc., and Ford Motor 
Company.
  During his time at Lilly, Dr. Lechleiter upheld and expanded Lilly's 
devotion to producing high-quality pharmaceuticals and giving back to 
the community. Lilly employs more than 11,000 people in the state of 
Indiana and more than 42,000 people across the globe. Lilly medicines 
serve countless doctors and more importantly patients around the world. 
Through Dr. Lechleiter's guidance and resolute leadership, great good 
has been done for the people of Indiana and the larger world. On behalf 
of the citizens of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, I would like 
to congratulate Dr. Lechleiter on his outstanding career at Eli Lilly 
and Company and wish all the best to him and his wife Sarah and their 
children Andrew, Daniel and Elizabeth and their families as they start 
the next exciting chapter their lives.

                          ____________________