[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 1995

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate J.P. Griffin, Inc. and Griffin Service Corp. on the 
occasion of their 50th anniversary in business.
  Their story is a vivid illustration of the promise of opportunity 
which is inherent to freedom. It began with a handshake. That's when 
Lester Olson became a one-third partner in J.P. Griffin, Inc., an 
appliance repair company he had joined a year earlier when the firm was 
launched. Leaving a secure position with a shipyard where he made $840 
per month, he began his new job making the grand sum of $30 per week. 
But Lester and his wife Yetive knew how to combine opportunity with 
hard work and sacrifice.
  As the company took on more and more jobs involving the installation 
of commercial refrigerated display cases and walk-in coolers, it became 
a natural transition to move into work with refrigerated shipping 
vessels, and finally, air conditioning.
  By the early 1950's, Floridians were turning off their fans, closing 
their windows, and installing central air conditioning in their homes 
and businesses. J.P. Griffin, Inc. was one of the leaders during this 
breakthrough period.
  In the early 1960's, the service department was separated from the 
construction department, and Griffin Service Corp. was set up under the 
management of Ted Wade. Today, Bryan Lingerfelt manages Griffin, Inc., 
just as his father did for over 20 years.
  No history of the development of modern Tampa would be complete 
without mentioning the impact of companies like J.P. Griffin, Inc and 
the Griffin Service Corp. Equally as important, their community 
contributions have been significant throughout the years.
  For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Griffin 
Inc. and Griffin Service for 50 years of excellence.

                          ____________________