[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          TRIBUTE TO JIM HENRY

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 1995
  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to 
Jim Henry, a constituent of mine who was recently awarded the Small 
Business Administration's ``1995 Small Business Person of the Year'' 
award for the State of Missouri.
  Ten years ago Mr. Henry left his job with Emerson Electric and bought 
R.C. Wilson Co., a small collection agency in St. Louis, MO. At the 
time Mr. Henry bought R.C. Wilson he had no small business experience 
or background, but he did have a can-do philosophy, which has helped 
him build one of the most successful collection companies in our city. 
Over the past 10 years, sales, employment, and clientele at R.C. Wilson 
have grown significantly. Sales have increased by 200 percent, while 
employment at R.C. Wilson have grown from 25 to 118. At the same time, 
his company's collection success rate is over 30 percent--higher than 
the 22 percent average for the industry.
  Mr. Henry explains his success this way: ``The way a business owner 
treats employees makes or breaks a business. The key to long-term 
success is to treat your employees with dignity and always maintain the 
highest level of integrity and honesty in all dealings.'' This attitude 
is reflected in the companies employee benefit policies. R.C. Wilson 
Co. has a generous tuition reimbursement program which enables many 
employees to continue their education through post-graduate levels. The 
company also provides an annual scholarship for Missouri Business Week 
to the child of one employee. The company also shares profits with its 
employees.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to close by again offering Mr. Henry my 
congratulations on being named the 1995 Missouri Small Business Person 
of the Year, and to wish him and the employees of R.C. Wilson Co. 
continued success.


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