Boone Pickens Homepage           Electronic Publishing Center
	REMARKS TO FITNESS CENTER OPEN HOUSE AMARILLO, TEXAS MAY 5, 1989

(5 MINUTES)

I’m glad to see so many of you here today.

It’s a pleasure to be a part of this week’s activities.

I officiated at yesterday’s Tug-O-War and it was great to see so many people from different departments participate.

Congratulations go to the Exploration/Executive team for taking the first place trophy in the Battle of the Corporate Departments.

I can’t think of a better way to end this week of celebration than with an Open House and with having Ken Cooper speak to us. I know all of you will enjoy his remarks.

When this Fitness Center opened 10 years ago, we were ahead of our time. Corporate fitness is a much more established program now but know that a lot of the programs you see today have been modeled after ours.

Yesterday I was in Midland giving a speech and I was asked how the Fitness Center contributed to Mesa’s success.

It was an easy question to answer. Physical fitness is an essential part of the best-run companies. It has economic as well as spiritual and psychological benefits.

This Fitness Center has always been an asset because we care about the people who work here and because we want to stay competitive.

We’re committed to a total wellness program not only for you but for your spouses and children as well. Our interest in fitness goes beyond this facility.

Many of you are aware of our commitment to educating our young people about the hazards of drug use.

We recently ordered 26,000 “Just Say No To Drugs” tee shirts for students in kindergarten through 8th grade in Amarillo public schools. A lot of you will see your sons and daughters coming home with them.

John Durkin and Rock Mathis are giving a lot of time to teaching these students through a skit depicting what drugs and alcohol can do to their mind and body.

Before we go on with Dr. Cooper, I want to shift gears for just a minute and talk about tomorrow’s city elections.

Mesa employees have always shown a responsibility in voting so maybe I’m preaching to the choir, but I want to remind you this is a critical election.

I’m voting for and Mesa PAC recommends:
— Mayor: Glen Parkey
— Place 1: John Chandler
— Place 2: Don Chrysler
— Place 3: Don Burris
— Place 4: John McKissack

Find out your polling place ahead of time and plan to make voting part of your Saturday agenda, now.

Thank you.