[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES' FIRST AFRICAN-
               AMERICAN CHIEF PILOT LOUIS ``LOU'' FREEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the retirement of Southwest Airlines' first African-American 
Chief Pilot Lou Freeman. On June 8, 2017, after 37 years of service, 
Captain Freeman announced his retirement. Captain Freeman will forever 
be remembered as the first African-American chief pilot for any 
airline.
  Captain Freeman served our amazing country in the Air Force for six 
years, and will forever be the model of a modern Chief Pilot. His 
desire to be perfect was personified by his unwavering commitment to 
the skies and his passengers. His most famous trip might have been when 
he flew Rosa Parks' remains to her funeral, but the one that meant the 
most was his last which was full of family and friends.
  Today, Captain Freeman is set to celebrate his 65th birthday, and he 
deserves to be honored for his dedication to our country. Since joining 
Southwest in 1980, Captain Freeman has been an example for so many 
Americans. In life, there are many successes and failures, but to 
strive for perfection and to do so every day is what separated Captain 
Freeman from his contemporaries.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Captain Freeman on such a groundbreaking 
as well as barrier breaking career. More so, I wish Captain Freeman and 
his wife the best during retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, the retirement of one of America's first and finest, one 
of Dallas' own, is worthy of placing these sentiments in the permanent 
record of the United States Congress.

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