[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: April 13, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] DISTINGUISHED SERVANT: W.R. ``DICK'' PHILLIPS ______ HON. BILL EMERSON of missouri in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 13, 1994 Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a distinguished community servant in my southern Missouri district. After 26 years as the mayor and an alderman of New Madrid, MO, W.R. ``Dick'' Phillips is retiring. Over these years, Dick has been an influential leader and positive force in this Bootheel community nestled along the Mississippi River. Living and working amongst some of the most fertile soil in this great country of ours, Dick Phillips has been a farmer and agri-business developer for nearly a half-century. Moreover, he has taken his experience and hard-work ethic from down on the farm into community projects and community development on New Madrid's downtown Main Street and throughout the entire county. As an alderman, Dick helped lead the effort to pass the single largest industrial bond issue for any community of any size up to that time. For a small town, that was, and still is, quite an accomplishment. The eventual end result is the Bootheel region's biggest employer in Noranda Aluminum and Associated Electric. Noranda now puts 1,300 people to work from a half-dozen southeast Missouri counties and 4 other States and is a staple in our economy. Meanwhile, Associated Electric supplies all of the power to Noranda as well as the rest of the community's residents and other businesses. Its statewide power cooperative also distributes electricity throughout Missouri--and this is nothing to say about the 300 jobs created in the process. As mayor, two other industries also located in New Madrid. Kontek Industries constructs prefabricated buildings utilized by telecommunications firms to house and to protect their high-technology equipment in rural areas. Alloy Research manufactures copper wire and other alloy derivatives used by the Defense Department and the aeronautics industry. And in 1988, the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce recognized Dick Phillips with the community's highest honor--Man of the Year. On a lighter side, those who really know Dick Phillips and have dealt with him on a regular basis know he enjoys a good laugh--whether he's dishing it out or happens to be on the receiving end. For instance, at a recent council meeting, Dick helped solve a citizen's complaint about an expensive water bill. After the customer was satisfied, Mayor Phillips, who's physically a large man, leaned over to the rest of the council and stated that he never uses that much water. A fellow alderman quickly replied: ``Mr. Mayor, when you get in the bathtub, there's not much room left for water.'' Immediately noticing his gaffe, the alderman tried to smooth things over by saying, ``I mean it's a matter of physics--you just displace a lot of water.'' The entire council chamber erupted in laughter and loudest above them all was the mayor, Dick Phillips. All told, this Navy veteran, farmer, and agri-businessman certainly will leave his imprint on the city of New Madrid and the Bootheel region for years to come. For all of those who have worked with him to make southeast Missouri and the New Madrid community in particular a better place, we thank Dick Phillips and wish him all the best during the glory years of his retirement. ____________________