[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E869-E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM WOODROW CARTER: ALABAMA'S SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF 
                                THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a distinguished 
businessman and outstanding citizen of my congressional district, Mr. 
William Woodrow Carter of Brundidge, AL. Mr. Carter has been honored as 
Alabama Small Business Person of the Year for 1997 by the U.S. Small 
Business Administration.
  Woodrow Carter is one of 53 honorees selected from all 50 states, the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands and Guam based on 
criteria stability, financial strength, leadership resulting in 
business growth, ability to overcome adversity, response to changes in 
the market, and community and business citizenship.
  Woodrow, together with his brother Charlie, founded Carter Brothers 
in 1936 with 10 employees. Today, his business has grown to employ 200 
people and has diversified from the production of agricultural 
equipment to lawn mowers and garden equipment to go-karts. But that's 
not the real award winning story.
  After Woodrow's business suffered extensive damage in a 1989 tornado, 
he didn't choose to close it down, but rather enlisted the support of 
his family and employees to rebuild. Remarkably, portions of his 
business were up and running within a few days.
  Today, Carter Brothers Manufacturing of Brundidge is an example of a 
prosperous, ever adaptive small business, which continues to provide 
quality to the customer and solid employment to the community. This is 
quite a feat when you consider the financial, market and government-
driven obstacles which often block small business development.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to congratulate my constituent, Mr. William 
Woodrow Carter for

[[Page E870]]

his contribution to Alabama's economic well-being. He deserves the 
mantle of Alabama's Small Business Person of the Year.

                          ____________________