October 6, 2009 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 17 23659 the Cancer Treatment Centers of America to TRIBUTE TO BEN LEWIS seen new development come in, new busi- Coweta County the highlight of his profes- ATUAHENE nesses open, and hotels and condominiums sional career.’’ constructed. It’s fitting that his crowning achievement will HON. THOMAS S.P. PERRIELLO Through these significant changes, we know be a center to fight the ravages of cancer, the OF VIRGINIA South Padre Island continues to evolve even disease that took him from us much too soon. after suffering from great loss in revenues and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The cancer treatment center will bring at least services brought about by Hurricane Dolly. 500 new jobs and hundreds of millions of dol- Tuesday, October 6, 2009 South Padre Island continues to accommo- lars in economic impact for Coweta County. Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, Ben date, protect, and serve its many residents When Bill retired this summer, the Times- Lewis Atuahene—also known as Kofi and tourists. Herald editorialized: ‘‘Bill Harrison is a good Kwarteng—was born to Dora Yaa Akyea Chief Rodriguez has been able to adjust his guy. If he were in an old western movie, he Kyerematen and Samuel Kwadwo Atuahene staff and manpower to the growing needs of would be wearing a white hat. . . . When Har- on January 23, 1942 in Kumasi, Ghana. He South Padre Island. On any given day, you rison took the economic development job in attended Ghana National Secondary School in can spot Chief Rodriguez, while on or off duty, Coweta, our community’s industry-recruiting Cape Coast and briefly worked at the Presi- visiting with locals and residents. He works effort was a mess. It was fragmented. There dent’s Castle in Ghana before moving to Lon- around the clock. was no single go-to person or organization. It don, England in 1965 to study law. In 1969, In 1984, he began his work for the Town of had gotten so bad that prospects would simply he was admitted to the Honorable Society of South Padre Island as a dispatcher, and later look elsewhere. That changed after Harrison the Inner Temple, and was called to the Bar was promoted to the police force. From then was hired to preside over the Development in 1971. During that same time he met and on, Chief Rodriguez has climbed the ranks Authority and that group became the go-to married the love of his life, Beatrice within the South Padre Island Police Depart- agency here.’’ Achampong, in London. They later moved to ment and on August 18, 2000, he was sworn Bill was more than a fierce advocate for the New York in 1972, where they started their in as police chief. community; he was also a beloved figure. On family. Opportunities arose for the couple in Chief Rodriguez has been instrumental in a web site set up for his family, more than California and they moved with their two his work with South Padre Island, and al- 2,000 people expressed their condolences. daughters, Nannette and Bernadette, to Los though I am sad to see him leave, I know he All of Coweta County mourns the loss of our Angeles in 1976, where he began work as is ready to enjoy his much needed retirement dear friend Bill Harrison. Our thoughts and legal counsel for C & R Clothiers in Culver with his family, friends and loved ones. prayers are with his wife of 43 years, Virginia City. In 1984, he passed the California Bar Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to Heitzman Harrison, and their family. and immediately began the independent law please join me in commemorating the service f practice he ran until his untimely death. Ben of Chief Robert Rodriguez, who served the Town of South Padre Island, the State of CONGRATULATIONS TO HOWARD was an invaluable asset to the Ghanaian com- munity and touched the lives of thousands of , and the of America, in CHO, PRESIDENT OF CVE TECH- his capacity of law enforcement officer for 25 NOLOGY GROUP IN PLANO people through his legal practice, philanthropy, and mentorship. Ben’s untiring generosity, years. HON. SAM JOHNSON strength of character, determination to suc- f ceed, and desire to make those around him OF TEXAS HONORING COL. JIM MUDD realize their full potential survive in his daugh- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ters, Nannette and Bernadette, and his grand- Tuesday, October 6, 2009 HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART children, Abdeena, Alieu, Alim, and Afia OF Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Nyarko. He is also survived by brothers, Yaw IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker, congratulations are in order for How- Kankam, Oppong, Frimpong, Dixon, Kwame, ard Cho, president of CVE Technology Group Ernest, and sister, Eva Atuahene, as well as Tuesday, October 6, 2009 in Plano. extended family both here and abroad. Ben Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. It is an honor and a privilege to salute him will be deeply missed by his family and his Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true for winning the distinguished Minority Manu- community, where he served as a guide, a leader, dedicated public servant, and a dear facturer of the Year Award. Presented on be- counselor, and a friend. friend, Col. Jim Mudd, Collier County Man- half of the United States Department of Com- f ager. merce’s Minority Business Development Agen- Jim served his country honorably for 26 cy, this prestigious award pays tribute to the HONORING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND years in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of minority entrepreneurs who have dem- CHIEF OF POLICE ROBERT and retiring as the Commander and onstrated industry leadership, business suc- RODRIGUEZ ON HIS RETIREMENT District Engineer of the U.S. Army Engineer cess, and community impact. District in Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated Founded by President Cho in New Jersey in HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point 1986, the company specializes in consumer OF TEXAS in 1974 and earned a Master’s degree in oper- electronics, has revenues of $50 million and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ations research from the Naval Postgraduate employs over 1,200 people. In 2002, CVE School in 1982. He was formerly Assistant Di- Tuesday, October 6, 2009 Technology Group relocated to Plano, Texas, rector of Civil Works, Central Region, U.S. where it now provides refurbishment of cell Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C., phones and remanufacturing business with recognize the service and dedication of Police and Chief of the Assessment Division, U.S. Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. Chief Robert Rodriguez for his service and Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, CVE plans for more growth through continued commitment to the Town of South Padre Is- Florida, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is also cellular phone manufacturing, expanding their land, where he worked for 25 years, and re- a veteran of the Gulf War. He and his wife An- operation and sales revenue. tired from the police force on September 1, nette have two children who are also serving In fact, the city of Plano honored Mr. Cho 2009. in the armed services. His son Ryan is a Lieu- and the company with a citation creating ‘‘CVE Chief Rodriguez has been instrumental in tenant in the U.S. Navy and his daughter Kati Technology Group Day.’’ working during the years with the many law is a Captain and physician in the U.S. Army. Economic data demonstrates minority- enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Val- After completing his military service in 2000, owned firms are poised to generate long-term ley as each of the town’s police officers, in- he moved to Collier County where he became employment and economic growth in their cluding him, strove to serve and protect South the Public Utilities manager followed by nine communities. Howard Cho’s CVE Technology Texans and guests who visit South Padre Is- months as the Deputy County Manager and Group in Plano is a shining example of that. land year-round. eventually earning the top leadership position Congratulations again, and thank you, to Mr. During the past few years, Chief Rodriguez, as County Manager on July 15, 2002. Cho and CVE Technology Group in Plano, along with those that call South Texas home, Throughout the years I have had the privi- Texas. I salute you. has seen South Padre Island grow. We have lege of working with Jim to advance the needs

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