[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 61 (Monday, April 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S5079]]
     CONGRATULATING JIM NICHOLSON AND PVS CHEMICALS, INC., ON 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate PVS 
Chemicals, based in Detroit, MI, on the occasion of its 50th 
anniversary. Jim Nicholson, president and chief executive officer of 
PVS, and son of founder Floyd A. ``Nick'' Nicholson, has a great deal 
of which he should be proud. Since he came to head PVS in 1979 Jim has 
diversified its products and services and expanded into the 
international marketplace while maintaining the company's commitment to 
safety, quality,environmental responsibility, customer service, and 
employee and community support.
  Founded in 1945 in Detroit as Pressure Vessel Service, Inc., PVS has 
grown and expanded dramatically. Today it manufactures inorganic 
chemicals for industry, and also for municipal water treatment. With 
reported sales of $121.7 million in 1994, PVS also expedites recycling 
of selected chemical wastes and operates a licensed waste treatment 
facility in Detroit.
  In addition to its commitment to the Responsible Care Program of the 
Chemical Manufacturers Association and to the Responsible Distribution 
Program of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, PVS 
maintains an active concern with improving the quality of life in the 
communities in which its plants are located. Each PVS location chooses 
a direction for its own community outreach activities. Educational 
support has been a major focus, including scholarships, intern 
opportunities, mentoring, tutoring, career day participation, equipment 
and materials donations, and significant contributions at the college 
level. Site adjacent cleanup activities also are a common PVS 
contribution to the community. River cleanups, trash pickup, and even 
adoption of park areas and vacant blocks characterize these efforts to 
spruce up PVS neighborhoods. And PVS plans to extend and integrate all 
of these activities to better help their communities.
  PVS' public spirit clearly stems from the vision of its president and 
CEO, Jim Nicholson. Jim took over PVS in 1979 after serving a stint 
overseas with the First National Bank of Chicago and serving in PVS as 
a vice president and later treasurer. He is an active member of his 
community, having served as vice chairman for economic development for 
Mayor Archer's transition committee, on various boards of directors and 
on the Advisory Board of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the 
Detroit Institute of Arts Founders Society Corporate Relations 
Committee, and the dean's board of advisors for the Wayne State 
University School of Business Administration. He also is actively 
involved with the Michigan Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the 
United Negro College Fund and has served on committees for the American 
Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and several other 
charitable causes.
  Mr. President, this Nation needs more companies like PVS, which take 
seriously their obligations to the communities in which they work and 
live. I congratulate PVS on 50 years of responsible, successful work, 
and wish them many more.


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