Recognizing George Duke

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. George Duke, the chairman and sole owner of Zippo Manufacturing Company.

Started by George's grandfather in 1932, Zippo has become an American icon. From earning the nickname ``the GI's friend'' to becoming an international pop culture symbol, this famous windproof lighter transcends generations.

Since its invention, every Zippo windproof lighter has been proudly manufactured in Bradford, Pennsylvania. George knows Zippo's success would not be possible without the local community, and he continually gives back to the place he calls home.

Zippo's most recent investment in Bradford's future is through a generous gift to the University of Pittsburgh's Bradford Campus. Last fall, the campus opened a new engineering and information technologies building, and thanks to Zippo's investment, students are learning in state-of-the-art engineering labs.

This investment provides a hands-on, cutting-edge experience for students, ultimately helping them pursue successful engineering careers in the region and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, this investment goes beyond the walls of Pitt-Bradford. It is an investment in our community and in our future.

On behalf of a grateful community, I thank George Duke for his tremendous dedication to building a thriving workforce in Pennsylvania's northern tier.

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