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Congressional Daily Record
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March 24, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. FRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of my friend, Lonnie Thompson, of Florence, South Carolina, on his retirement after 45 years of service to SOPAKCO.
company has played a critical role in supporting our men and women in uniform, dating back to World War II. They have become an institution in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina and a leading provider of MREs to the Department of War.
food industry. He helped FEMA develop a civilian version of the MRE, which has been utilized for disaster relief purposes for more than a decade. Earlier this year, he was named as one of the most influential leaders of the Pee Dee.
Prior to joining SOPAKCO, Lonnie proudly served in the U.S. Army and National Guard for 17 years, where he honed his leadership and organizational skills as a tank commander.
and was married to the love of his life, the late Dorothy “Dot” Thompson, for 49 years.
country, and for his unwavering support of our men and women in uniform. I wish him well in his retirement.