Y-12 auditorium named for congressman
Y-12 auditorium named in honor of Congressman Zach Wamp
Wed, 27 May 2009
A ceremony was held today to dedicate the auditorium at the Y‑12 National Security Complex’s New Hope Center as The Zach Wamp Auditorium.
A plaque was unveiled that will hang outside the auditorium that reads, “Throughout his fifteen-year congressional career, Zach Wamp has shown his ability to bring people together to promote the quality of life and economic well-being of the people of the Tennessee Valley. In recognition of his vision and service to the Tennessee Valley Corridor, this auditorium is named in his honor.”
Wamp attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the New Hope Center in July 2007 and praised the ahead-of-time and under-budget completion of it and its sister facility, the Jack Case Center. Today’s ceremony was part of the Tennessee Valley Corridor’s National Summit, which Wamp helped create in 1995.
“Everyone in Oak Ridge has been fortunate to have Congressman Wamp representing them, and Y‑12 is no exception,” said B&W Y‑12 President and General Manager Darrel Kohlhorst. “The changes that have occurred here during his tenure have been tremendous and are due in large part to his work in Congress.”
The congressman has been an integral component of activities at the Y‑12 National Security Complex, including promoting the construction of the New Hope Center through privately financed means. Lawler Wood LLC developed and manages the facility that B&W Y‑12, the managing and operating contractor for the site, leases from them.
“Congressman Wamp’s long-time support for Y-12’s transformation effort has been fundamental,” said Ted Sherry, Y‑12 Site Manager. “He has played a key role in promoting and supporting our efforts to create a more cost-effective facility.”
The Y‑12 National Security Complex is a key facility in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise and is responsible for ensuring the safety, reliability, and security of the nuclear weapons stockpile and serves as the nation’s primary repository of highly enriched uranium. B&W Y‑12 operates the Y‑12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration.