[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9986-S9987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

  The resolution (S. Res. 167) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the

[[Page S9987]]

founding of the Harley-Davidson Motor company, which has been a 
significant part of the social, economic, and cultural heritage of the 
United States and many other nations and a leading force for product 
and manufacturing innovation throughout the 20th century, was 
considered and agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
       Whereas in 1903, boyhood friends, hobby designers, and 
     tinkerers William S. Harley, then 21 years old, and Arthur 
     Davidson, then 20 years old, completed the design and 
     manufacture of their first motorcycle, with help from Arthur 
     Davidson's brothers, Walter Davidson and William A. Davidson;
       Whereas, also in 1903, Harley and the Davidson brothers 
     completed 2 additional motorcycles in a makeshift ``factory'' 
     shed in the Davidson family's backyard at the corner of 38th 
     Street and Highland Boulevard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
       Whereas the design features and construction quality of the 
     early Harley-Davidson motorcycles proved significantly more 
     innovative and durable than most other motorcycles of the 
     era, giving Harley-Davidson a distinct competitive advantage;
       Whereas in 1905, Walter Davidson won the first of many 
     motorcycle competition events, giving rise to a strong 
     tradition of victory in motorcycle racing that continues 
     today;
       Whereas in 1906, Harley-Davidson Motor Company constructed 
     its first building, financed by the Davidsons' uncle James 
     McClay, on the site of the Company's current world 
     headquarters one block north of the Davidson home site, and 
     manufactured 50 motorcycles that year;
       Whereas in 1907, Harley-Davidson Motor Company was 
     incorporated and its 18 employees purchased shares;
       Whereas in 1908, the first motorcycle for police duty was 
     delivered to the Detroit Police Department, beginning Harley-
     Davidson's long and close relationship with law enforcement 
     agencies;
       Whereas in 1909, to enhance power and performance, Harley-
     Davidson added a second cylinder to its motorcycle, giving 
     birth to its hallmark 45-degree V-Twin configuration and the 
     legendary Harley-Davidson sound;
       Whereas during the years 1907 through 1913, manufacturing 
     space at least doubled every year, reaching nearly 300,000 
     square feet by 1914;
       Whereas Arthur Davidson, during Harley-Davidson's formative 
     years, set up a worldwide dealer network that would serve as 
     the focal point of the company's ``close to the customer'' 
     philosophy;
       Whereas Harley-Davidson early in its history began 
     marketing motorcycles as a sport and leisure pursuit, thus 
     laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity;
       Whereas in 1916, Harley-Davidson launched ``The 
     Enthusiast'' magazine, which today is the longest running 
     continuously published motorcycle magazine in the world;
       Whereas also in 1916, Harley-Davidson motorcycles saw their 
     first military duty in skirmishes in border disputes along 
     the United States border with Mexico;
       Whereas in World War I, Harley-Davidson supplied 17,000 
     motorcycles for dispatch and scouting use by the Allied armed 
     forces, and whereas the first Allied soldier to enter Germany 
     after the signing of the Armistice was riding a Harley-
     Davidson motorcycle;
       Whereas by 1920, Harley-Davidson was the world's largest 
     motorcycle manufacturer, both in terms of floor space and 
     production, with continual engineering and design innovation;
       Whereas during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the 
     company survived when all but 1 other domestic motorcycle 
     manufacturer failed, on the strength of its product quality, 
     the loyalty of its employees, dealers, and customers, steady 
     police and commercial business, and a growing international 
     presence;
       Whereas in 1936, Harley-Davidson demonstrated foresight, 
     resolve, and faith in the future by introducing the company's 
     first overhead valve engine, the ``Knucklehead'' as it would 
     come to be known, on its Model EL motorcycle, thus 
     establishing the widely recognized classic Harley Davidson 
     look and the company's reputation for styling;
       Whereas Harley-Davidson workers in 1937 elected to be 
     represented by the United Auto Workers of America, thus 
     launching a proud tradition of working with Harley-Davidson 
     to further build the company through advocacy and the 
     development of effective programs and policies;
       Whereas William H. Davidson, son of the late founder 
     William A. Davidson, became president of Harley-Davidson in 
     1942 and would lead the company until 1971;
       Whereas Harley-Davidson built more than 90,000 motorcycles 
     for United States and Allied armed forces use during World 
     War II, earning 4 Army-Navy ``E'' Awards for excellence in 
     wartime production;
       Whereas Harley-Davidson, during the 1950s and 1960s, 
     recharged its sales and popularity with new models, including 
     the Sportster and the Electra Glide, new engines, and other 
     technological advances;
       Whereas the Company developed the concept of the ``factory 
     custom'' motorcycle with the 1971 introduction of the Super 
     Glide and the 1977 Low Rider, under the design leadership of 
     William ``Willie G'' Davidson, vice president of Styling and 
     grandson of company founder William A. Davidson;
       Whereas since 1980, as a national corporate sponsor of the 
     Muscular Dystrophy Association, Harley-Davidson has raised 
     more than $40,000,000 through company, dealer, customer, and 
     supplier contributions, to fund research and health services;
       Whereas in 1981, a group of 13 Harley-Davidson executives, 
     led by chairman and CEO Vaughn Beals purchased Harley-
     Davidson from its then corporate parent AMF Incorporated;
       Whereas by 1986, Harley-Davidson, against incredible odds, 
     restored the company's reputation for quality and innovation 
     and returned the company to vitality, thus ensuring a highly 
     successful initial public stock offering;
       Whereas throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Harley-Davidson 
     became a national role model for positive labor-management 
     relations, product innovation, manufacturing quality and 
     efficiency, and phenomenal growth;
       Whereas President Ronald Reagan, President William J. 
     Clinton, and President George W. Bush all have visited 
     Harley-Davidson manufacturing facilities and extolled the 
     example set by Harley Davidson through its practices;
       Whereas the Harley Owners Group, with more than 800,000 
     members and 1,200 chapters worldwide, is celebrating its 20th 
     anniversary year in 2003 as a driving force in the company's 
     heralded ``close to the customer'' operating philosophy; and
       Whereas Harley-Davidson Motor Company is today the world's 
     leading seller of large displacement (651 cc plus) 
     motorcycles, with annual revenues in excess of 
     $4,000,000,000, annual motorcycle shipments in excess of 
     290,000 units, strong international sales, and 17 consecutive 
     years of annual revenue and earnings growth since becoming a 
     publicly held company: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements of Harley-Davidson Motor 
     Company, widely regarded as a tremendous American business 
     success story and one of the top performing companies in 
     America, as its employees, retirees, suppliers, dealers, 
     customers, motorcycle enthusiasts, and friends worldwide 
     commemorate and celebrate its 100th anniversary milestone;
       (2) recognizes the great impact that Harley-Davidson has 
     had on the business, social, and cultural landscape and lives 
     of Americans and citizens of all nations, as a quintessential 
     icon of Americana; and
       (3) congratulates the Harley-Davidson Motor Company for 
     this achievement and trusts that Harley-Davidson will have an 
     even greater impact in the 21st century and beyond as a 
     leading force for innovative business practices and products 
     that will continue to provide enjoyment, transportation, and 
     delight for generations to come.

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