The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF WILLARD KINZER
______
HON. HAROLD ROGERS
of kentucky
in the house of representatives
Friday, November 12, 2021
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my long-time friend Willard Kinzer, a World War II veteran, racecar driver, and successful businessman in Eastern Kentucky. He is a loyal patriot of this great nation, a generous philanthropist for Kentucky's Appalachian communities and an innovative leader for the Kinzer Drilling Company.
One of the most iconic symbols in Eastern Kentucky has become the giant American flag flying in front of the Kinzer Drilling headquarters in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It represents Willard's consummate pride in the American way of life, our military, and his dedication to the people of our region. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willard joined the U.S. Navy when he was only 16 years old--he adjusted his birth certificate, determined to help his country in World War II. He narrowly missed the deadly explosion on ammunition ship USS Mount Hood just before he was sent back home to the United States. That explosion killed the entire 300-plus crew on board and nearly 100 more crew members on the nearby USS Mindanao. It injured 371 more, sank 22 small boats and damaged 18 larger ships. On that day, Willard's perspective forever changed, and he began living with a new fearless lease on life.
Willard Kinzer is the type of person who wakes up and hits the ground running. In fact, he has a sign at home that says ``Life begins at 200 mph.'' With a passion for fast cars, he has won countless trophies and awards for drag racing and hill climbing competitions over the years, and he holds the record for being the first person in history to drive a stock suspension car faster than 230 miles per hour. It should come as no surprise that he celebrated his 90th birthday winning a drag race championship in Bristol, Tennessee. He is truly a thrill-seeker at heart.
For 70 years, he was blessed to share every adventure with his wife, Lucy. Together, they raised a beautiful family and invested in local communities, helping build the Mountain Arts Center, the Wesley Christian School in Allen, and Hope in the Mountains in Prestonsburg. They also grew the Kinzer Drilling Company into a successful gas and oil business, spanning 800 miles in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.
On this Veterans Day, I count it a great honor to join the people of Eastern Kentucky in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Willard Kinzer, saluting him for his valiant service during World War II and his continued work across Eastern Kentucky.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 197
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