[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WISHING WELL TO MR. NORMAN BRINKER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute a 
great Dallas-Fort Worth resident. Mr. Norman Brinker is a trailblazer 
and trendsetter. He has been a pioneer in business and a great friend 
to our community.
  There is perhaps no more amazing restaurateur than Mr. Brinker. He 
revolutionized the combination of good food, reasonable cost and great 
customer service through his Steak and Ale restaurant chain. He built 
the chain to 100 units before The Pillsbury Company, of which Mr. 
Brinker later became Chairman, bought it.
  As Chairman of The Pillsbury Company, he oversaw the world's second 
largest restaurant organization, presiding over sales of $4 billion. 
Never one to rest on his laurels, Mr. Brinker soon ventured out on his 
own again, buying Dallas based chain Chili's. Under his leadership, the 
23 operating units of Chili's became Brinker International, a world 
restaurant power with hundreds of operating units and over $2 billion 
in sales. Brinker International now owns Chili's, On the Border, 
Macaroni Grill, Cozymel's, Corner Bakery, Big Bowl and Eatzi's 
restaurant chains.
  Brinker International is an extraordinarily important corporate 
citizen of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but just as important is Mr. 
Brinker's leadership in the industry and society. The leaders of 
Outback Steakhouse, Houston's, Red Lobster and Boston Market all spent 
time under Mr. Brinker's tutelage. In addition, he has been a 
trendsetter in philanthropy, encouraging entrepreneurs to pair their 
financial donations with donations of time, and helping to start the 
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with his wife Nancy.
  Mr. Speaker, Norman Brinker has relinquished his position as Chairman 
of Brinker International and is engaged in a new challenge--defeating 
his own cancer ailment. As he approaches this new challenge with the 
same zeal as the other challenges in his life, Dallas-Fort Worth looks 
forward to his leadership for years to come. I ask that the Congress 
and the country join the citizens of Dallas-Fort Worth in wishing him 
well.

                          ____________________