[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. LEWIS J. MINOR

                                 ______


                           HON. DICK CHRYSLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues 
the unique contributions of a 20th century icon in the American food 
service field--Dr. Lewis J. Minor.
  As an inventor, entrepreneur, educator, and generous benefactor, Dr. 
Minor's career has been one of honor and pride to an industry that is 
fundamental to all Americans, yet this story is largely unknown.
  Like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, Lewis J. Minor was a 
visionary who brought his solution to a basic human need to market with 
startling success.
  A food scientist by training, Dr. Minor worked with his wife Ruth in 
their family kitchen to develop a variety of food bases that condensed 
the savory essence of poultry, vegetables, beef, pork, and seafood for 
use by professional chefs. Using their own children as blind-folded 
tasters, the Minors discovered the secret techniques that would save 
chefs hours of tedious labor in their kitchens, and allow all of 
America to enjoy an excellent cuisine that previously had been 
available only to the wealth elite.
  Now a staple in virtually every professional kitchen, L. J. Minor 
food bases were launched in 1951 when Dr. Minor left his secure job as 
a respected corporate technical director at age 37 and set up shop in a 
single room with $7,500, mostly borrowed, a loaned Hobart mixer, and 
his dreams. After nearly a decade of struggle--moving first into a 
former horse barn and later to a converted car wash--the Minor food 
bases caught on, largely through word-of-mouth among experienced chefs.
  From the outset Dr. Minor stressed quality and customer satisfaction 
above all else. Upon launching the L. J. Minor Corporation he stated, 
``The tenets upon which I shall build my business will be honesty, 
integrity, accuracy, kindness, punctuality, courtesy, friendliness, and 
cleanliness. I will endeavor always to be fair and helpful, not only to 
employees, my management team and stockholders, but also to customers, 
Government agencies, and competitors.''
  Today, the L. J. Minor Corporation is housed in an expansive plant in 
Cleveland and its products are sold and highly respected around the 
world. As an Horatio Alger story about a dedicated inventor and 
industrialist who made good, the tale of Lewis J. Minor would be worth 
telling. But that's only part of this extraordinary man's saga.

  In 1961, with wealth and accolades to last a lifetime, Dr. Minor made 
a pivotal decision--he went back to school and in a sense started over. 
In 1964, he received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University's food 
service program with the sole intent of sharing with the upcoming 
generation of hospitality professionals his vast knowledge of food 
science and his personal vision of the importance of an unwavering 
commitment to excellence.
  Balancing his duties as president of a major food manufacturer with 
the growing legion of devoted students he taught at Michigan State, Dr. 
Minor has left an indelible imprint on his industry that would be 
difficult to overstate.
  Although he sold off his interest in the L.J. Minor Corporation some 
years back, Dr. Minor remains a dominant force in American food service 
education, and one of its most generous benefactors. He has written or 
coauthored 12 books and numerous articles in the field, and has donated 
millions of dollars to help students in the programs at Michigan State, 
Cornell, the Culinary Institute of America, Purdue, Johnson and Wales, 
the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and through the continuing 
education programs of the American Culinary Federation.
  Much is made these days of importance of family values, and Dr. Minor 
embodies this term at its finest. Beyond his devotion to his wife Ruth 
over the 57 years of their marriage and to their 8 grown children and 
their grandchildren, Dr. Minor has extended his family through the 
years to embrace countless students who came to consider the Minor's 
house their second home. It is interesting to note that many of Dr. 
Minor's pupils have gone on to become distinguished food service 
industry and educational leaders in their own right.
  A new book entitle Always in Good Taste: The L.J. Minor Story, has 
been written with the assistance of John Knight, captures the 
philosophies and accomplishments of this distinguished American for 
those who would like to learn about a successful man who is not above 
extending a helpful hand to anyone who will take it. His example should 
be remembered always.

                          ____________________