[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 4415] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO MR. FRANKLIN E. FORD ______ HON. DAVE CAMP of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Franklin ``Frank'' Ford recognizing his recently revealed contributions to the U.S.-led allied victory in World War II as designer and superintendent for The Dow Chemical Company's ethylene plant. During Word War II, Imperial Japan blocked shipments of natural rubber to the U.S. As necessity is the mother of invention, the U.S. was forced to develop synthetic rubber to relieve the U.S. military of its dependence on imported rubber. Mr. Ford and a team of dedicated engineers at The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, developed and pioneered domestic ethylene production, which as the precursor to synthetic rubber, was used to supply the U.S. with critical resources necessary to win the war, Ethylene continues to have practical, widespread applications today in plastic bags, paints, antifreeze and car components. Until recently Mr. Ford's family was unaware of his impact on Dow and his important role in developing ethylene. He is being honored today at the Herbert D. Doan Historical Museum in Midland and finally getting the recognition he and others deserve. Like so many in Mr. Ford's generation, he never asked for any credit, recognition or accolades for his work or the work of his team during the war. He did not ask for a blue ribbon or a tickertape parade. He is among the many anonymous Americans who quietly, selflessly did his job on the home front to win the war overseas. That is why more than 60 years after World War II it is a privilege for me to publicly recognize Mr. Ford and his team at The Dow Chemical Company as unsung heroes and acknowledge their contributions to the U.S. during a time of world war. ____________________